Bhubaneswar: After West Bengal, Orissa government Sunday opposed BJP government’s efforts to saffronise higher education system.
The state government has asked all colleges and institutions under the higher education department not to go by the University Grants Commission (UGC) instructions insisting on listening to/watching the telecast of the Prime Minister’s speech September 11.
“As student union elections are round the corner and the campuses are currently on election mode, we have decided not to follow the instructions of UGC. In view of possible threat to law and order situation, we have directed all colleges and universities not to make any arrangements to listen/watch the PM’s speech on that day,” Higher Education Minister Ananta Das told Orissa POST. The state government would also inform the UGC about the state government’s decision, Das added.
Earlier, the UGC urged all university vice-chancellors not to miss Modi’s lecture September 11 (10.30 am) to observe Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Centenary Celebrations and to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s address to the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago
The UGC circular had asked the universities and research institutes across the country to make arrangement for the live telecast of the speeches. The theme of the programme is “Young India, New India – A Resurgent Nation: from Sankalp to Siddhi”.
While West Bengal government Friday said it had asked all colleges and universities in the state against following the advisory, the Orissa government said it was examining the UGC’s Sept 7 circular.
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