BENGALURU: Despite orders from the University Grants Commission (UGC) asking varsities and colleges to make arrangements for the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address marking the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, majority of the institutions in the city did not follow the orders.
“Missing regular class hours for something which would have a political agenda was not at all productive,” said a vice-chancellor of a prominent university.
The principal of an autonomous college, on condition of anonymity, said, “Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy had instructed us to cut off the screening at any point if it was pro-RSS. The academic council on Sunday decided not to make arrangements for the telecast.”
Mr Jayaprakash, a national executive member of ABVP, said, “Raising political beliefs to neglect a world leader’s renowned deed is disrespectful.”
Mr Manjunath H.S., state president, NSUI, said, “The central government’s attempt to indirectly promote Hindutva failed again. Mixing politics with education and trying to contaminate young minds is something that should be stopped immediately.” He said that Mr Modi should avoided taking the RSS ideologue’s name while paying respects to a global leader like Swami Vivekananda. “Communal venom cannot be sprayed using Vivekananda’s identity that easily,” said Ravinandan B.B., state vice-president, AIDSO.
