NEW DELHI: New Education Minister Prakash Javadekar reached out to students on day one, asserting that dialogue is the key to avoid the kind of agitations seen on campuses around the country in recent months.
Mr Javadekar, seen as non-confrontational and reportedly handpicked by the party leadership for the complete contrast he provides to his aggressive predecessor Smriti Irani, said he would use his experience as a student leader to initiate "good dialogue" with students to prevent protests and clashes on campuses.
The principle that guided Modi as he initiated sweeping changes of portfolios seems to be a straightforward one: perform, or perish. And the Prime Minister's ruthlessness in implementing this mantra during the Cabinet overhaul suggests that he finds nobody as indispensable.
No reputation is big enough and no proximity is close enough if one has been found wanting in performance.
"I am a product of student agitation, so we will always talk with everybody. With dialogues in place, there will be no necessity of agitations," said Mr Javadekar, who was repeatedly reminded that he inherits simmering discontent in university campuses from Ms Irani's two-year tenure.
Talking to reporters here, he asserted that dialogue is the key to avoid agitations and that education is not a subject for party politics.
“I am a product of student agitation, so we will always talk with everybody. So with dialogues in place, there will be no necessity of agitation,” Javadekar said.
Putting up a brave face, Irani, whose shifting is being seen as demotion, played down her portfolio change with a popular line of a Hindi movie song, “Kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna.” “I am happy that I have been given an opportunity especially when a special package (of Rs 6,000 crore for the apparel segment) has been announced for the sector.