Row over grading third language: KRV to protest against Governor

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike plans a protest against Governor Gehlot over concerns on third language grading in SSLC exams.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a prominent pro-Kannada organisation, has announced that it will hold a protest at Freedom Park on Monday, denouncing Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot over his office writing to the government expressing concerns over grading and not awarding marks to third language papers in the SSLC examination. The letter had said that the “Governor had taken note of the issue and desired that the matter be examined comprehensively”. 

In an open letter to the Governor, T.A. Narayana Gowda, president, KRV, condemned the Governor’s office’s move, emphasising the distinction between the constitutional role of the Governor and the executive authority of an elected government. “Education policy is well within the purview of the State government, and when an elected government with a clear majority was functioning effectively, you have neither the moral authority nor the constitutional responsibility to interfere in day-to-day administration,” he said in the letter. 

School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa recently announced the shift in evaluation of students in the SSLC examination, saying it was aimed at decreasing the academic burden on children.

The letter from the Governor’s office said they had received a representation from the Association for Preservation of Local Languages, Bengaluru, raising concerns over the decision, and forwarded the same to the Chief Secretary, with a letter which said the Governor also “desired that the matter be examined comprehensively”. 

Mr. Gowda said no one had heard of the said organisation before, and it smacked of a conspiracy by the “Hindi lobby”. KRV has now announced a protest against the Lok Bhavan’s move. The protest is to take place at Freedom Park on Monday. The organisation has demanded that the Lok Bhavan immediately withdraw its letter to the State government.