Chhattisgarh: RSS calls varsity VCs’ meet

A controversy broke out over RSS convening a meeting of vice-chancellors of six universities in Chhattisgarh at Raipur on Sunday to review the prevailing education system in the undergraduate and postgraduate level in the state.

Taking strong exception to the alleged interference by RSS in educational institutions in the state, the Opposition Congress on Tuesday apprehended a “conscious” move by the Sangh to saffronise the education system in the state and demanded immediate intervention by Chhattisgarh governor B.D. Tondon in the matter.

“It is a very serious matter. RSS tried to encroach upon the jurisdiction of the governor who has sole authority to convene meeting of VCs as chancellor of universities in the state, by convening meeting of the VCs. The governor must take appropriate action to prevent recurrence of such incident in future,” Congress Legislature Party leader in Chhhattisgarh Assembly, T.S. Singh, said in his letter to the governor.

He wondered on what authority the RSS called the meeting, and why the VCs attended it.

“I also demand action against the VCs for flouting the code of conduct enshrined in their service rules by attending the meeting,” he added.

Chhattisgarh Prant Sangh Chalak of the RSS Bisra Ram Yadav and his deputy Purnendu Saxena held a meeting of VCs of six universities in the state apparently to review current situation of higher education in the state.

The VCs pointed out some loopholes in the system and urged the RSS leadership to take steps to correct them.

“State higher education minister Prem Prakash Pandey was asked to attend the meeting late in the evening on Sunday. He was then entrusted with the task of addressing woes of the VCs without any delay,” sources in the Sangh told this newspaper on Tuesday. “Mr Pandey assured that he would take remedial measures after discussing the issue with the chief minister Raman Singh.”