Row over replacing Urdu with Sanskrit in govt schools in BJP-ruled Rajasthan
Jaipur (PTI): Orders replacing Urdu with Sanskrit as the third language in some government schools in Rajasthan followed by a minister's remarks that many Urdu teachers secured jobs with fake degrees has created a row in the BJP-ruled state.
Rajasthan's education department had recently issued an order to Mahatma Gandhi Government School (RAC Battalion), Jaipur, to suspend classes offering Urdu as the third language and introduce it as an option.
A few days later, a government senior secondary school in Bikaner received a similar communication for replacing the language.
Amid growing resentment against the twin orders, a fresh controversy broke out on Monday after Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham purportedly said that many Urdu teachers in the state secured jobs with fake degrees.
"The previous (Congress) government removed Sanskrit teachers and posted Urdu teachers in their place. Now, we don't know Urdu and no one even studies that subject, which is why we will discontinue the posts of Urdu teachers and provide the kind of education that people want here," Bedham said during an event held in Bharatpur on Monday which circulated in the social circles.
Rajasthan's Urdu Teachers' Association termed the minister's remarks baseless and irresponsible.
"It is not correct to call Urdu teachers fake without any investigation. It is also untrue that previous Congress government appointed Urdu teachers replacing Sanskrit teachers," said Urdu Teachers' Association president Amin Kayamkhani.
School Education Minister Madan Dilawar was not available for comments.
However, Board of Secondary Education Director Ashish Modi said it is not a blanket order for all schools.
"It is not a blanket order. Except one student, there is nobody who studies Urdu as the third language in a government school in Napasar, Bikaner. This is the reason why it was discontinued," he said.
The order to suspend Urdu classes in Mahatma Gandhi Government School (RAC Battalion), Jaipur, was issued by the district education officer on the directions of Dilawar's special assistant.
"The minister has ordered the creation of Sanskrit teachers' posts and close down Urdu (classes). Therefore, make sure to send the complete proposal for opening Sanskrit as a third language in your school to this office," the order states.
Taking an objection, Congress MLA Rafeek Khan wrote a letter to Dilawar.
"Presently, 127 students studying Urdu as third language in the school. Closing Urdu classes would adversely affect the students," he said.
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Deepfake video of Nirmala Sitharaman used to dupe Belagavi man in Rs 7.9 lakh scam
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): A 76-year-old man in Belagavi city was allegedly cheated of Rs 7.9 lakh in an online investment scam that used an AI-generated deepfake video misusing the name of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to lure investors, police said on Wednesday.
An online fraud case was registered at the cybercrime police station on May 1, they said.
According to Belagavi Police Commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, the victim, Prakash Gubbi, a senior citizen, stated in his complaint that in November last year, he came across a video on YouTube in which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman appeared to endorse an investment scheme.
The video also mentioned a link in its description for making investments.
The victim clicked on the link, entered his details, and was later contacted on social media by a person identifying himself as Adarsh Anand, who persuaded him to invest, the officer told reporters.
Citing the complaint, the officer said the victim initially invested a small amount, after which the application began showing profits of USD 65,000.
When he attempted to withdraw the amount, the accused demanded a “customs duty” payment of Rs 4.2 lakh, claiming it was required to process the withdrawal.
The victim paid the amount, after which he was asked to pay an additional Rs 2 lakh. It was at this stage that he realised he had been cheated. In total, he lost around Rs 7.9 lakh in the fraud, the officer added.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, and police are investigating the matter, police said.
The commissioner cautioned the public not to trust such videos, stating that the finance minister does not endorse any such schemes.
He warned that such content is created using artificial intelligence and deepfake technology.
He further advised the public to remain vigilant, avoid offers that appear too good to be true on the internet, and invest only through legitimate, registered agencies or trusted channels.
Deepfake technology enables the creation of realistic videos, audio recordings, and images that can mislead viewers by superimposing one person’s likeness onto another, altering their words and actions. This can present a false narrative or spread misinformation.
