New Delhi, January 22: A couple of days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interacted with students at the Devi Ahilya University (DAU) in Indore, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday asked the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar to explain how they allowed a ‘political’ function to take place on the campus.
While winding up his two-day visit of the state on Tuesday, the AICC general secretary had addressed students, including those drawn from Indian Institute of Management, Indore, asking them to join politics.
“Temples of learning should be kept free from politics, but Rahul Gandhi openly asked students to join the National Students Union of India,” said Higher Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma while seeking a report in the matter.
Higher Education Commissioner Ashish Upadhyay said the function also violated the model code of conduct enforced in view of the ongoing panchyat polls. He said the varsity officials had been asked to explain within seven days whether they had taken permission from the DM before allowing the function.
Incidentally, though Rahul had also gone to universities and institutes in Gwalior, Jabalpur, Sagar and Bhopal, the state has asked only DAU officials to explain. During his visits to the campuses, the Congress had taken care to keep local leaders away.
But Vice-Chancellor Ajit Singh Sehrawat said the function was apolitical and, in any case, the university was not required to take permission from the state government. He said he was yet to get the notice.
The Congress reacted angrily saying the BJP government was not able to digest the enthusiastic welcome Rahul received from the students. “He had gone to the university on an invitation. He never asked students to join the NSUI,” said PCC chief Suresh Pachauri. The ruling BJP regularly held lecture series on campuses that were political, he alleged.
In a similar development, the BJP has demanded sacking of the Goa University (GU) Registrar Mohan Sangodkar for allowing Rahul to address students at the university ground earlier this week. Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar said the Registrar should be asked to step down for allowing a political function on the campus in contravention of university rules.
—PTI