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| BJP, Congress lock horns as Lok Sabha clears two Central Universities for J&K | | |
ZAFAR CHOUDHARY
Jammu, Dec 1: As Early Times had reported in its Tuesday issue BJP’s ‘accidental or misconceived’ about turn on Jammu and Kashmir’s Central Universities, the Lok Sabha today witnessed heated exchange of arguments between BJP and Congress even as the Lower House of Parliament passed the Central Universities amendment Bill.
A self proclaimed champion of Jammu region, BJP had on Monday surprised everyone when its member Anurag Thakur opposed the Central Universities amendment Bill which was moved by Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal with the purpose of bifurcation of the Central University of Jammu and Kashmir to provide two Central Universities for Kashmir and Jammu regions separately. BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s stand on the issue was contrary to his party’s campaign in Jammu which actively spearheaded agitation in the region earlier this year.
As the Lok Sabha took up debate on the Central Universities Act today for passage of the amendment Bill, the Congress MP from Kathua-Udhampur Chowdhary Lal Singh took on the BJP for allegedly communalizing the politics of Jammu and Kashmir. Lal Singh accused all BJP and other saffron leaders from Shyama Prosad Mukherjee to the present day leadership for sowing seeds of hatred. Enraged on Singh’s comments, this had the BJP members on their feet breaking into clash with the Congress members.
Singh was countering the comments of Anurag Thakur (BJP) on the sacrifice made by Himachal Pradesh youth, who joined the armed forces in large numbers annually. He said Jammu and Kashmir youth made more sacrifice than Himachal Pradesh-from freedom struggle to Kargil battle.
Soon after Singh made these comments, BJP members, including Thakur, were on their feet in protest, saying they never opposed the central universities for Jammu and Kashmir, nor did they question the valour of the youth of the border State.
Later, the Lok Sabha passed a bill to bifurcate the Central University in Jammu and Kashmir to have two separate institutions to cater both the regions. The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill 2009 was passed unanimously in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote paving the way for setting up one Central University in Jammu and another in Kashmir.
Replying to the debate on the Bill, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal asked the States to suggest to the Centre three to four sites to enable it select the best location for setting up universities.
During the debate some members voiced concern over bifurcation of the Central University, saying it could introduce a sentiment of separation among the people of the State. Sibal said setting up Central Universities was part of the UPA Government's plan to exponentially expand the higher education system. He said the move to set up jurisdiction of the two Central Universities in Jammu and Kashmir was purely an administrative decision.
Educational institutions falling in Jammu Division could be affiliated to the Central University in Jammu while others, including in Leh and Kargil can be affiliated to the one in Kashmir.
On initiatives of the HRD ministry, Sibal said it was his endeavour to set up a collegium of experts to appoint Vice Chancellors for universities. "There will be no interference from the Government and no Government representative will be part on the collegium," he said.
The decision to set up 15 universities was announced by the Government earlier to correct the regional imbalances as some regions did not have even a single Central University.
Sibal said the new Central Universities would help take education to 40 million more students who are likely to be eligible for higher education in 2020.
Of the 220 million students who get primary and secondary education, about 26 million are eligible for graduation. This number is likely to increase to 66 million in 2020.
The Universities have been sanctioned in Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Haryana, Sibal said adding that except Haryana none of the States has a Congress Government.
Passing of this bill by Parliament will replace the Central Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2009, promulgated on October 20.
It was felt necessary to establish two separate Central Universities, one each in Jammu region and another in Kashmir, for maintaining regional harmony in the State, Sibal said.
It was decided to rename the Central University of Jammu and Kashmir as Central University of Kashmir and to establish a new Central University of Jammu by appropriate amendments to the Central Universities Act, 2009.
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