Stalin says JNU V-C’s nomination to Madras varsity panel is ‘saffronisation’
The nomination of JNU V-C Jagadesh Kumar as head of the Madras University vice-chancellor search panel has triggered an uproar in Tamil Nadu’s political circles. In a statement on March 5, DMK chief MK Stalin said the nomination of Kumar as the head of the search committee sets a wrong precedent.
The nomination of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar as head of the Madras University vice-chancellor search panel has triggered an uproar in Tamil Nadu’s political circles, with DMK and ruling AIADMK-ally PMK condemning the move.
Kumar was nominated by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, the chancellor of Madras University, as incumbent vice-chancellor P Duraisamy’s tenure is set to end this May. Kumar had faced severe criticism due to his alleged inaction during the January 5 attack in JNU.
அரசியல் சட்ட நெறிமுறைகளுக்குப் புறம்பாக, சென்னைப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் துணைவேந்தர் பதவிக்கான தேடுதல் குழுவின் தலைவராக டெல்லி #JNU பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் துணைவேந்தர் ஜெகதீஷ் குமாரை தமிழக ஆளுநர் நியமித்தது பாஜக-வின் காவிமயக் கல்விக் கொள்கையை தமிழக உயர்கல்வியில் புகுத்துவதற்காகவா? pic.twitter.com/wXX402CXeA
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 5, 2020
In a statement on March 5, DMK chief MK Stalin said the nomination of Kumar as the head of the search committee sets a wrong precedent. Condemning the move, he said the governor is trying to impose the saffron agenda on the higher education institutes in the state.
“In the name of creating transparency in choosing the vice-chancellor of the University, the governor is going against political ethics to saffronise higher education institutes in the state,” Stalin said in his statement. He also appealed to the governor to nominate a qualified academician from Tamil Nadu to head the search committee.
Besides, PMK founder Dr. Ramadoss also condemned the nomination of Kumar and asked, “Are there not enough academics in Tamil Nadu to elect a vice chancellor?”
2.சென்னை பல்கலைக்கழகத்திற்கு வெளிமாநிலத்தவர் ஒருவரை நியமிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்துடன் தான் தேடல் குழு தலைவராக ஜெகதீஷ் குமார் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக தெரிகிறது. வெளிமாநில துணைவேந்தரை நியமித்ததால் அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கழகம் சீரழிவது போன்று சென்னை பல்கலை.யும் சீரழிந்து விடக்கூடாது!
— Dr S RAMADOSS (@drramadoss) March 5, 2020
“It looks like Jagadesh Kumar has been nominated as the head of the Madras University vice-chancellor search panel with an intention of appointing someone from the other state. Anna University got ruined after the appointment of a vice-chancellor from another state. It shouldn’t happen to Madras University,” he said.
