Pinarayi alleges bid to 'saffronise' MG University

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan accused UDF govt of remaining silent in the face of alleged efforts by Sangh Parivar to “saffronise” Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. He called upon secular and democratic forces to oppose what he described as attempts to influence the university’s functioning through governor’s office.

In a social media post, Vijayan alleged that the process began with appointing a functionary of a BJP-affiliated teachers’ organisation from Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) as temporary vice-chancellor of MGU. He said govt failed to submit a panel of candidates for the appointment, thereby weakening the possibility of mounting a legal challenge.

Vijayan alleged that subsequent appointments to university senate were in violation of established norms and a majority of those appointed were either affiliated with or sympathetic to RSS. He criticised state govt and higher education department for what he termed a passive approach, alleging that they had failed even to register formal dissent.

The opposition leader said during the previous LDF govt’s tenure, similar attempts to implement a Sangh Parivar agenda in higher education were resisted through political and legal interventions. Referring to remarks attributed to higher education minister that govt didn't seek confrontation with governor, he argued that the issue concerned the protection of constitutional principles and university regulations rather than a political dispute.

He cited recommendations of Sarkaria commission and court rulings that, according to CPM, limit governor’s role in university administration and require temporary vice-chancellor appointments to be made from govt-submitted panels.

Claiming that expanding RSS influence in universities had long been a Sangh Parivar objective, Vijayan alleged that UDF govt had effectively facilitated such efforts and called on the chief minister to clarify the administration’s position on the matter.