'BJP following up regional languages issue in UPSC'

The Bharatiya Janata Party has opposed the scrapping of regional language paper in the Union Public Service Commission examination and is likely to take up this issue firmly with the Centre shortly.

"I do not know about Raj Thackeray's opinion on UPSC's decision to drop regional languages in its examinations, but we following up this issue and will discuss it with concerned the Union Minister this week," BJP spokesperson Prakash Jawadekar said when asked to react on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief's statement that MPs should raise the matter in Parliament as the move was "anti-people".

Jawadekar said that regional languages must be respected and UPSC should not have made changes.

"We have already raised the issue in Parliament. We are also writing letters to all MPs as this decision will have an impact on all regional languages," he added.

On the drought situation in Maharashtra, Jawadekar said that the situation was brought upon by natural calamities but it has become more grave owing to negligence by the state government over the last 15 years.

He said that BJP has demanded Rs 2,200 crore from the Centre to face water scarcity in Maharashtra.

The BJP MP was in Shirdi to offer prayers to Saibaba on Sunday.

Raj had said that the "monopoly" of English was not desirable.

"Students must have a choice. Applicants from Maharashtra must have the opportunity to answer the exams in Marathi," he said.