Like British, Modi govt looted country's water, forest and land in 10 years: Kharge
Deoghar (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of looting the country's water, forest and land in the past 10 years as had been done by the British.
Kharge also alleged that the saffron party has been dividing the country along religious lines while, he claimed, Congress always united Hindus and Muslims.
“Like the British, the Modi government looted 'Jal, Jungle, Jameen' (water, forest and land) of the country in 10 years. PM Modi handed over the country's assets to his billionaire friends. We faced the British and we are not afraid of the BJP," Kharge said while addressing a rally in Jharkhand’s Deoghar.
He claimed that the previous UPA governments had enacted laws to protect water, land and forest but the Modi government changed rules and systematically weakened the legislation.
"The Congress unites Hindus and Muslims, while Modi divides Hindus and Muslims," he claimed.
The Congress leader urged the people to save the Constitution by showing the exit door to the saffron party’s government at the Centre.
He said that if voted to power, the Congress would implement a separate Sarna religious code for tribals.
Referring to former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Kharge said, "Modi sent a tribal CM behind bars before polls. Jharkhand people will avenge this injustice."
The Congress will undertake a caste survey to deliver justice to people, he said and added that Congress will fill up 30 lakh vacant government posts after August 15 if voted to power.
He alleged that Modi under a design sent the only tribal CM in the country behind bars before elections but the people of Jharkhand will avenge this injustice meted out to them.
"You (PM) reside in a palace, tribals reside in jungles, they are not afraid of you and will not bow down," he said.
Kharge also alleged that PM Modi insulted tribals and Dalits by not inviting President Droupadi Murmu to the Ram Temple consecration and former President Ram Nath Kovind to the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Parliament building.
He criticised the Agnipath scheme of the Modi government, saying that those who get jobs in defence forces through it would not get benefits given to servicemen now.
The Congress leader alleged that the BJP government was misusing central agencies like ED and CBI and was harassing opposition governments and leaders in the country.
"Modi-Shah are harassing us. We will defeat Modi and form an INDIA bloc government at the Centre," he added.
He claimed that it is an election to save democracy and the Constitution.
Kharge was campaigning for Pradeep Yadav of Congress who is contesting from Godda Lok Sabha seat which is going to polls on June 1.
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Explainer: CBSE's three-language formula for Class 9; What does it mean, what changes?
New Delhi (PTI): Two months after beginning of the 2026-27 academic session, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has notified implementation of the three-language formula for Class 9 from July 1, 2026.
Here is an explainer of what the formula is:
1. What is three-language formula?
The three-language formula in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommends that students learn three languages, at least two of which must be native to India. This formula applies to both government and private schools, giving states the flexibility to choose languages without any imposition.
2. What is the history of three-language formula?
The formula was first proposed by the Education Commission (1964-66), officially known as the Kothari Commission. It was formally adopted in the National Policy on Education (NPE) 1968 under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The policy was reaffirmed in NPE 1986 under PM Rajiv Gandhi and revised in 1992 by Narasimha Rao’s Congress government to promote linguistic diversity and national unity.
The formula included three languages -- mother tongue or regional language, official language and a modern Indian or European language.
3. What does NEP 2020 say about the three-language formula?
The NEP proposes an “early implementation of the three-language formula to promote multilingualism" from the school level. The document states that the three-language formula will continue to be implemented "while keeping in mind the constitutional provisions, aspirations of the people, regions, and the Union, and the need to promote multilingualism as well as promote national unity”.
However, the NEP also states that there will be greater flexibility in the three-language formula, and no language will be imposed on any state.
The policy states that the three languages learned by children will be the choices of states, regions, and of course, the students themselves, so long as at least two of the three languages are native to India.
4. What about foreign languages?
According to NEP 2020, in addition to Indian languages and English, students at the secondary level can also learn Korean, Japanese, French, German and Spanish, among other foreign languages.
However, a key shift in the curriculum is the classification of English as a foreign language, with the Board allowing only one foreign language within the three-language framework. This could restrict students from choosing both English and another foreign language as their second and third languages.
5. Are books ready?
The board has said till the dedicated R3 textbooks are available, Class 9 students shall use the Class 6 R3 textbooks (2026-27 edition) of the chosen language.
The board has further said schools facing a shortage of adequately-qualified native Indian language teachers may, as an interim arrangement, engage existing teachers of other subjects who possess functional proficiency in the language concerned.
6. What is the controversy about three language formula?
The three-language formula has been at the centre of the political row between the former DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and the Centre.
The state has historically opposed the three-language formula. In 1937, the then Madras government, headed by C Rajagopalachari, introduced compulsory Hindi in schools. This move sparked widespread protests by the Justice Party and Dravidian leaders like Periyar. The policy was revoked in 1940, but anti-Hindi sentiments persisted.
When the three-language formula was introduced in 1968, Tamil Nadu opposed it, seeing it as an attempt to impose Hindi. Under Chief Minister C N Annadurai, the state adopted a two-language policy, teaching only Tamil and English.
Tamil Nadu remains the only state that has never implemented the three-language formula, choosing English over Indian languages, including Hindi and other regional languages.
