Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday came down heavily on the students politics in Universities all over the country where the elections were marked by violence and turmoil.
Interacting with the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, (NAAC) team which visited the Himachal Pradesh University for inspection, he said that his Government won't tolerate students indiscipline in the institutes of higher education.
“I agree that there should be representation by student leaders, but it should be on merit. I oppose the stands of students on direct election, which sometimes leads to turmoil and riots in the campus affecting studies of students and vitiating the academic atmosphere”, said Virbhadra Singh.
He said the selection of student bodies should be on basis of merit. There were some people whose policy was to do mischief, he said adding that they did not enroll themselves for studying but to enroll their cadre and want their presence to be felt by creating fear in students and politicising the academic atmosphere. The growing violence in universities and colleges pose threat to the education system and should be controlled.
“I being a student of Saint Stephen college, Delhi, never took part in student politics though we had our own student body elected on merit," he said. He called for maintaining discipline in the campus and the teachers should not try to impose their personal ideology upon the students when it comes to teaching profession. He exhorted that teachers should not be part of politics though they were free to vote in Assembly or lok Sabha elections but they could not be ‘preachers of politics’ and could not hold any political office in educational institutions.
The Chief Minister said that around 200 bighas of land had been identified near Ghannahatti for setting up another campus of University as there was no scope of expansion at the present site.
New hostels, education blocks would come up there.
He said that the financial assistance for the University had been enhanced from Rs 79 to Rs 90 crore and more grants would be given in times to come.
Chairman of NAAC team, Inder Vardhan Trivedi thanked the Chief Minister for his generosity, honour and thoughtful address. Vice-Chancellor, ADN Bajpai extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister and said that in term of financial security, HPU was the third such university all over the India.
Chief Secretary, VC Pharka, Advisor to CM, T.G. Negi, Director Information and Public Relations, R.S. Negi were also present amongst others.