The Hindu : More minority students appear for exams

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 20, 2002

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More minority students appear for exams

By Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR APRIL 19. The efforts of the Gujarat Government as also of the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, yielded better results today with more students belonging to the Muslim community appearing for the on-going secondary and higher secondary examinations in the State.

The better response by the minority students showed an immediate improvement in the overall percentage of attendance in the examinationsAn official spokesman said the attendance increased from 93 per cent on Thursday to 96.16 per cent today, marginally less than the normal presence of about 98 per cent. Encouraged by the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi's assurance, more Muslim parents have agreed to send their wards for the examinations.

Mr. Modi's assurance that the students who missed the examinations in the last two days due to security concern would be given another chance has boosted the morale of the minority students. Officials of the Education Department visited the relief camps housing the riot-hit Muslims and Muslim-dominated areas. They reassured the parents about security for their wards.

Mr. Fernandes, who arrived in Ahmedabad on Thursday night for a four-day visit to the riot-hit areas in the State, visited a couple of examination centres to review the security aspects and spoke to students. His request to the parents met with instant response.

For the Modi Government, a peaceful conduct of the examinations would be a major indicator of the return of normality as well as a point in favour for the ruling BJP to convince the Election Commission to hold Assembly elections.

Mr. Fernandes, who met senior Army and Air Force officials to review the law and order situation, called on Mr. Modi here this morning..

Mr. Modi left here today for a two-day visit to Saurashtra. The trip is viewed as Mr Modi's first exercise in the region for the coming Assembly elections.

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