The Government today appealed to UPSC aspirants to observe restraint and have patience as the government will look into the demand of scrapping of the Civil Services Aptitude Test and will not allow any injustice to be done to them with regard to the language in the examination.
Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in his reply to the House on the issue of alleged injustice to the regional language students in the UPSC examinations, clarified that the issuing of admit cards for the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) took place as per the UPSC's calendar and the examination is scheduled for the 24th of August. However, he said, the three member Committee constituted on 12th March, 2013, has been directed to submit its report in a week's time.
Earlier in the day after adjournment till 12 noon, the Rajya Sabha assembled for discussing matters of urgent public importance.
The ongoing agitation by UPSC aspirants demanding the scrapping of the Civil Services Aptitude Test figured in the Lok Sabha today. Members belonging to Samajwadi Party and RJD raised the issue during the question hour.
As soon as the House met for the day, the members tried to raise the issue demanding suspension of the question hour.
However, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan refused to allow them saying that she will permit them during Zero Hour. Then the agitating members trooped into the well of the House in support of their demand. Amidst the din, Mulayam Singh Yadav asked the government to promote national languages.
Government appealed to agitating civil services aspirants of UPSC to observe restraint and keep patience as the issue is being looked into.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House today, Minister of State for Personnel, Jitendra Singh said, there will be no discrimination on the basis of language. He said, the Prime Minister and other senior Cabinet Ministers are concerned over the issue and hoped that it will be resolved soon.
BSP Chief Mayawati expressed concern over the delay in resolving the issue. She said, the government had given an assurance to Parliament that the students' concerns will be taken care of soon.
Scores of agitating civil services aspirants of UPSC were today detained after they tried to march towards Parliament House to stage a protest.
The police did not allow them to move ahead of Rail Bhavan, a stone's throw away from Parliament where the budget session is currently on. The protesters clashing with the police, were bundled into buses and taken away to Parliament Street Police Station.
The aspirants are demanding that the pattern for the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) be changed, saying it gives an unfair advantage to students who have studied in English medium.
Yesterday, hundreds of aspirants clashed with police, set several vehicles including a police jeep on fire, and indulged in stone-pelting in North Delhi's Burari area, leaving at least 10 policemen injured. Police detained 20 protesters and charged them with rioting and damaging public property.
