Politics or patriotism? UGC note creates row

NEW DELHI: A UGC circular to higher educational institutes to observe the ‘Surgical Strike Day’ on September 29 stoked a political row on Friday with the opposition accusing BJP of politicising the issue and the government saying that it’s all about “patriotism and not politics”.
“This is not politics but patriotism. Students needed to be informed about the surgical strikes, and what military and civil works soldiers do.The ministry issued a programme only on the basis of suggestions received from teachers and many students,” HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said.
He said it is not mandatory for the universities and institutions to celebrate the 2016 cross-border raid by commandos on Pak terror pads. “An advisory and not a direction has been issued to universities,” said the minister.
The UGC had on Wednesday written to the institutions to observe “Surgical Strike Day” with a request that the “activities undertaken may be uploaded on the university activity monitoring portal on UGC website”.
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal sarcastically asked whether the UGC would “dare” to celebrate November 8, the day when demonetisation was announced in 2016, as ‘surgical strike day’ as well. “UGC directs VCs of all universities to celebrate 29th September as Surgical Strike Day. Is this meant to educate or to serve BJP’s political ends?” Sibal tweeted.

“Will UGC dare celebrate 8th November as Surgical Strike Day depriving the poor of their livelihoods? This another jumla!” he said.
UGC’s communication also stated that “students shall pledge their support for the armed forces by writing letters and cards, which may be produced in both physical and digital format. These will be shared with PRO, defence and PIB across various media, including social media”.