'Let's put an end to computerization'

LUCKNOW: If BJP created news with its IT Vision, the Samajwadi Party (SP) is in news for its vows to end computerization in the country.

The party, which released its election manifesto on Saturday, had said that SP is against English medium education and the use of computers and will work to ensure that they are curbed if a government is formed with its support.

Reiterating this stand on Monday, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said, “Let us put an end to any further computerization in this country”.

He added: “India is a country with millions of unemployed hands and if we go on computerizing everything, we will soon have a bigger army of unemployed youth.”

SP's election manifesto had invited sharp criticism from many people on account of the anti-computer and anti-English stance, which was being dubbed as a political gimmick.

Unmindful of such criticism, Mulayam said: “Nothing should be allowed to go beyond certain limits. We have seen enough of computerization and any further move in that direction would be detrimental to the overall growth of the nation.”

He even said that the proliferation of management courses seemed to have only resulted in producing more and more unemployed MBAs.

Mulayam said he had never favored the use of machine in jobs that could be carried out easily by the human hand and mind.

Since 65 per cent of India's population depend on agriculture for a living, he said we have to promote agriculture, he said citing from Mahatma Gandhi’s writings.

On the issue of the use of English, the Samajwadi Party chief said: “What is stated in the manifesto is nothing new. Even though I am not against the idea of learning English language, I am opposed to making it compulsory.”

Do you think Mulayam's outrage against computerization is an election stunt to woo the rural masses? Do you think English and IT would spell doom for India's agriculture sector?