by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Government wants to de-escalate JNU tension
HRD Minister under scanner for poor handling
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Jan. 10
The Modi government wants the situation at the JNU is de-escalated as soon as possible. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is very upset with the way situation has taken an ugly turn and failure of the concerned authorities to handle it. It was only after the PM's displeasure that the HRD ministry swung into action and summoned the Vice Chancellor M Jagdeesh Kumar and gave a dressing down. He was told point by point how he failed to take action and visualise the situation developing at the JNU campus and handle it.
He was told to mend fences and also issue appropriate orders relating to hike in the fee structures. It now transpires that the VC may be allowed to hike the hostel room rent charges, the other hikes are being put on the hold.
The BJP, on its part, has also told the students close to its ideology that they should not hold counter demonstrations against the protesting Left wing students. This will lead to further confrontation. The BJP leadership does not approve the way the ABVP supported elements resorted to violence in retaliation of the Left wing students violent conduct earlier. It is felt that formal complaints should have been lodged with the Police and the University administration rather taking the law into their own hands.
The tweet by veteran party leader Dr Murli Manohar Joshi yesterday demanding the removal of the JNU VC may not rattled the party. But Dr Joshi echoed the sentiments of the majority of party leaders that the current VC has failed to run the administration efficiently particularly in an institution which has been controlled by the Left since its inception. It required a very mature handling to control such elements.
The party leadership is also unhappy as the focus has shifted to JNU agitation from the CAA protests. The BJP wanted the battle to be between the nationalists and anti-nationalists on the CAA. But the JNU incidents has shifted the focus which is not to be liking of the high command.
This has also puts the HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” in a poor light. The series of meetings of the JNU VC with the HRD ministry in recent past indicates the Minister's poor handling of a Central university directly under his nose.
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