All-party meet on UPSC exam row after Aug 24: Govt

New Delhi, Aug 8: Amid opposition demands for an all- party meeting during the current session of Parliament to solve the UPSC exam row, government today said it is serious on the issue and the meeting will be convened after the civil services examination scheduled on August 24.

"I assure the House, we will convene an all-party meeting after the examination, scheduled on the 24th," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkiah Naidu said in Rajya Sabha after Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad demanded a meeting to solve the row during current session.

Naidu said the issue requires a "detailed study" and "deeper discussion" and nothing could be done at the eleventh hour as there are contradictory views on it inside the House and outside while children are preparing for the examination.

He said such a situation has not been created by this government and it existed since 2011 and the government had made it clear during the discussion in the House that certain suggestions had come which were contradictory in nature.

Naidu said the issue requires a "detailed study" and "deeper discussion"

"We will apply our minds coolly" and the government will call a meeting of all important stakeholders. Azad had earlier warned the government that if agitation reached the streets, the situation would be out of control.

"Take a decision on the issue before August 14 else if the row reaches streets after Parliament session, it would be not in the interest of the nation," he said.

Almost all opposition parties are unanimous in their demand for an all-party meet and "I request the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to not to divide the country on the basis of language as it would be dangerous."

He said the government had earlier sought a week's time which was extended to a fortnight and later the matter was converted as a dispute between Hindi and English whereas nobody was opposing English.

PTI