Smriti Irani says controversy over German language 'deliberate'

Asserting that the government did not renew the MoU on German language as it would have been a violation of the Constitution, Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Friday said a deliberate controversy was being created over the issue.

"German is a foreign language which is being taught as a foreign language and I feel that a controversy is being created deliberately because in a press briefing four days ago, I had specified everything. The Centre cannot deliberately approve an MoU, which violates the three-language formula which is already being implemented in 33 states," Irani told reporters here.

The HRD Minister also raised doubts about the timing of the entire controversy.

"As per Schedule 8 of the Constitution, 22 languages were available which did not include German. This MoU was presenting German as third language, which was a violation of the Constitution. This renewal came up in September, but a controversy is being created in November. This in itself is a questionable thing," she added.

She further said the students were free to choose any Indian language, adding that German was already being taught as a foreign language.

Earlier this month, Irani had announced that German had been removed from the option of 'third language' in Kendriya Vidyalayas, stating that the provision to include it as a third language was in violation of Indian policies.

This move had reportedly prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel to raise the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the two leaders met in Brisbane on the sidelines of G-20 Summit earlier this month.