Thackeray junior holds rally to protest Maharashtra education 'mess'

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray's son and Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray on Saturday held an impressive protest rally of students here to highlight what he termed the "mess" in the education system in Maharashtra.

"It's now two years this government has come to power. What is the necessity for this protest march? Time has come to ask: When will 'achhe din' come in the education sector," he said amid thunderous applause from around 25,000 participants in the rally dubbed 'KG to PG protest'.

Hours earlier, the 26-year-old Yuva Sena chief tweeted: "KG to PG! Come with us to voice the mess in education!"

The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena are alliance partners in Maharashtra, with BJP's Vinod Tawde handling the education portfolio.

Aditya said: "There is no difference between the previous 'nalayak' (incompetent) government and this one. Met the Education Minister several times, but (it) made no difference; so I had to organise this procession."

He highlighted the demands of the student community like regulation of admissions to kindergarten classes; no interviews of parents and toddlers for admissions; reduction in weight of schoolbags; and failing of 150,000 Class 9 students.

Discussing the online admissions system, he said around 200,000 students are still awaiting admission to junior colleges and other professional courses.

"Either the Education Minister should reply or go; the mess is everywhere -- in admissions and examinations," said Aditya.

Clearly not amused, Tawde reacted by asking if it was a rally to highlight students' issues or create a new leadership in the Sena.

Students of all age groups joined the rally from all over Mumbai and surrounding areas on Saturday afternoon amid tight police security.

--IANS

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