Oppn doubts purpose behind law to regulate UP pvt varsities, govt defends move

The draft ordinance to ban use of campuses of private universities in Uttar Pradesh for "anti-national activity" has not gone down well with the opposition, with the Congress saying that the move smacked of "foisting" RSS ideology on educational institutions.

Downplaying the fears of the opposition, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya defended the ordinance, terming it "a very big decision" to maintain the sanctity of the "temple of education".

"It is true that a very big decision has been taken by the cabinet. Not just in Uttar Pradesh but in any educational institution across the country, anti-national activities will never be accepted. Neither any state nor the country will accept it," Maurya said.

UPCC general secretary and spokesman Dwijendra Tripathi, however, said, "The hidden purpose behind the law is to create fear and pressure on educational institutions for foisting RSS ideology."
"The law, when enacted, will act as the sword of Damocles and the universities will constantly face the threat of de-recognition," he said, adding it was "sort of dictatorship."
According to the draft, private universities will have to give an undertaking that their campuses will not be allowed to be used for "any anti-national activity."
On the specific clause regarding anti-national activities, he said, "There must be some plan and private universities will seek details of how to go about it."