New Delhi, April 4 (NationPress) The Congress party on Saturday voiced concerns regarding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's initiative to substitute Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) with 'Mahakal Standard Time' (MST). Party member Udit Raj emphasized that a global consensus is essential for such a proposal, while Raashid Alvi criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for acting unilaterally.

Pradhan introduced this idea during the International Conference titled "Mahakal: The Master of Time" on Friday in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

He referred to Ujjain as "the original centre of time calculation".

In response to Pradhan's proposal, Congress leader Udit Raj stated, "It's challenging to articulate what this concept truly entails." He highlighted India's profound scientific legacy, referencing ancient advancements like plastic surgery and the knowledge that the nation has contributed globally.

Raj expressed his frustration that, despite such rich heritage, the world still adheres to the European paradigm.

He explained to IANS, "Much of this knowledge remains obscured today. The European education system prevails, and most definitions and technologies originate from them."

Furthermore, he underlined, "For a proposition like this, a global consensus is necessary. Often, such initiatives are introduced but fail to materialize, similar to the Koo app which attempted to rival X but ultimately vanished. There is insufficient information available. No initiative should rely solely on faith."

Raj insisted that the concept must be scientifically and logically validated.

"If proven valid, we will endorse it," he affirmed.

Meanwhile, Congress's Raashid Alvi accused the BJP, stating, "Those in power can act as they please."

"Currently, legal arguments in the Supreme Court and High Courts are conducted in English, with no use of Indian languages. This should cease, and discussions should occur in Hindi and Sanskrit," he added during an interview with IANS.

Alvi mentioned that merely adjusting the time would not yield significant outcomes.

"BJP leaders should don 'dhotis' and embrace all cultural traditions," he remarked.

"While in power, they focus on renaming streets, cities, and even Mughal Gardens. However, they are not engaging in any meaningful development. They merely rename existing structures and believe that equates to progress. Now they wish to alter the concept of time as well," he alleged.

Alvi concluded, "They should first amend their own behaviors—starting with their lifestyle and attire."