Mysore/Mysuru: Maintaining that the New Education Policy (NEP-2020) is anti-Constitutional, former Karnataka High Court Judge Justice Nagamohandas likened the NEP to a sugar-coated bitter pill.

He was speaking at a seminar on ‘New Education Policy and the Politics of Distortion of Curriculum,’ organised by Manava Bandhutva Vedike at the Institution of Engineers on JLB Road here on Saturday.

Nagamohandas contended  that though the NEP may look like a good one at the outset, in reality it is a sugar coated pill, that tastes sweet first and turns bitter later.

Contending that the Centre has no powers to forcibly enforce the NEP on States, he said that any force is an act against the Constitution and deals a big blow to the federal structure of our democratic setup.

Alleging that the Centre is making attempts to centralise education by trying to keep all powers related to education with itself, the former HC Judge argued that the new policy provides ample opportunities for commercialisation of education. “There are dangers that the new policy will only benefit the rich,” he added.

Noting that the Government’s decision to repeal the three new farm laws was forced by farmers  relentless agitation, he said that this goes to prove that mass movements can bring solutions to problems. Urging  the Government to take back the NEP, Nagamohandas contended that the Government should evolve policies only after elaborate discussions and dialogues with all concerned sections of the society.

Justice (Retd.) Nagamohandas released a booklet titled (The depth and breadth of NEP-2020) on the occasion.

KPCC Working President R. Dhruvanarayan said that the NEP was a regressive policy rather than a progressive policy. Accusing the centre of making attempts to ‘Saffronise’ education in the garb of NEP, he contended that this policy will only bring about inequality in education.

Manava Bandhutva Vedike Founder President Satish Jarkiholi, a sitting Congress MLA and a former Minister, said that the NEP is detrimental to the interests of Dalits and other oppressed sections of the society. Charging the University of Mysore of showing undue haste in the implementation of NEP, he called for staging protests against the University’s move.

BSP State President M. Krishnamurthy, Vedike’s Divisional Convenor Leela Sampige and others were present.