No saffronisation of higher education will be permitted: Minister

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As the controversy surrounding the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor as well as Senate members to Mahatma Gandhi University continues to rage, Minister for Higher Education Roji M. John on Tuesday said the government would not endorse any form of `saffronisation’ in the higher education sector.

Speaking to reporters in Kottayam, the Minister also noted that it was during the LDF’s tenure that the Governor began intervening in the affairs of universities. “Those who criticise us should reflect on their tenure. Even reporters of Janmabhoomi were nominated to the Senate and Syndicate during the LDF regime. What were those who are protesting today doing then?” he asked.

The Minister also mocked the perceived conflict between the Governor and the LDF government, pointing out that it had dissipated abruptly following a meeting between the Chief Minister and the Governor.

He also defended the appointment of B. Ashok as Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department. “It is the government’s prerogative to appoint IAS and IPS officers to any position. The argument that this government should not appoint individuals who were not loyal to the previous government is baseless,” he said.

Mr.John pointed out that B. Ashok is an officer who was dismissed for criticising the previous LDF government. “It is an administrative decision of this government to provide him a suitable posting. If the same individuals appointed by the Pinarayi Vijayan government are to remain, then there is no need for a change in government. Claims that B. Ashok is affiliated with the RSS or Sangh Parivar are unfounded,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Left-backed teaching and non-teaching staff unions at the university staged a protest at the varsity campus here on Tuesday against the alleged attempts by the Kerala Governor to `saffronise’ the university by nominating 17 members with affinity to the Sangh Parivar to its Senate.