PM Modi Must Leave Students Alone: Kapil Sibal Jeers At 'Pariksha Pe Charcha'

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal jeered at ruling government’s ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ programme saying that PM Modi should rather leave the students alone and let them study. “I suggest PM (Modi) should let students be alone as this is time to prepare for boards. He shouldn't waste their time,” Sibal was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Taunting PM Modi, Sibal said that students were being forced to attend the programme. The unique programme that was started three years ago sees PM Modi interacting with the students and discussing their issues.

The PM also highlighted the importance of taking on extra-curricular activities and said there is a growing tendency among parents to push their children into activities considered "glamorous". "Parents should take time out to find out what their children want to do instead of pushing them into activities that are considered glamorous which they can discuss in their conversations with their friends," he said.

He also said students should not be afraid of failure and take it as a part of life. "Was told I shouldn't attend Chandrayaan landing as there was no guarantee of success but I needed to be there," the prime minister said.

On Monday, PM Modi addressed 200 students during a "Pariksha Pe Charcha" and said his conversations with them will be "hashtag without filter". Sibal said that instead the PM Modi should ‘talk about degrees.’ “Discussion should be held on 'openness' in degrees after it is obtained, it should be known to everyone. That's the 'Mann Ki Baat' he should do,” Sibal added.

The students who asked questions to PM Modi during the programme were short-listed on the basis of essays submitted by them on five subjects - Your Future Depends on Your Aspirations, Gratitude is Great, Our Duties, Examining Exams, Your Take, and Balance is Beneficial. According to officials, the event. A senior official of the ministry said they received around 2.6 lakh entries from students for the event this year. Almost double of what they received in 2018. Last year, it was around 1.4 lakh entries.

PM Modi’s interaction programme ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020’ was initially scheduled for January 16 but was rescheduled to January 20 on account of Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Onam and other festivals across the country.