Organisations and academicians strongly reacted to proposal to rename Kurukshetra University  

Kurukshetra, December 19--- A large number of organisations and academicians has reacted strongly against the proposal floated by Haryana Education Minister, Rambilas Sharma, on Friday here that the name of Kurukshetra University- oldest university of Haryana- be changed to Bhagwadgita University.

The proposal made by the Education minister in the presence of Haryana Governor, Kaptan Singh Solanki, who is also the Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, at the international seminar on ‘Bhagwadgita ki Sarvabhog Prasangitha’ held at Bhagwadgita sadan auditorium of Kurukshetra University, generated such spontaneous controversy that many academicians and citizen raised protest over the move immediately after the seminar, with the Minister.  

President of Kurukshetra University Teachers Association (KUTA), Dr. Pramesh Kumar said here today that KUTA is demanding to raise the University’s status to that of Central University for a long time, but the government had done nothing about it, and now education minister had proposed to change its name. He said that KUTA strongly condemned this move and warned a state level agitation if the move is not dropped. Dr. Pramesh, who is also the President of Haryana University and College Teachers Federation, alleged that efforts are being made to damage the importance and reputation of Kurukshetra University.

President, Students Federation of India (SFI) Shahnawaj said that BJP believe only in controversies. It has started a controversy by demanding the naming of Mohali airport on the name of its late leader Dr. Mangal Sain, against name of Sardar Bhagat Singh proposed by Punjab Government. Now it has started another controversy by demanding the change of Kurukshetra University’s name.  

He alleged that rather than establishing new educational Institutions, the BJP government is playing politics by naming old Institutions. He warned that students all over the state would protest on the roads if the proposal is not dropped.  

Former President, All India Brahman and Jironaudhar Sabha, Jai Narayan Sharma, said that Kurukshetra is know all over the world. And efforts made earlier twice to change University’s name were opposed by the people throughout Haryana, to make them unsuccessful. He warned that all social religious organisations of the town would jointly fight the proposal tooth and nail.

President of Haryana INLD, Ashok Arora, said that they respect Bhagwadgita, but they would support government if it created a new Institutions and name it on Bhagwadgita, rather than changing the name of the oldest university of the State. He said that Haryana government had already announced to establish medical college in each district of state, so an AIIMS or a medical college should be established on the name of Bhagwadgita, at the earliest, here, to fulfil desire of education minister. He felt that Kurukshetra is linked with Bhagwadgita, as it was delivered here by Lord Krishana, so Kurukshetra have its own relevance.   

Former President Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee cum former Member of Rajya Sabha, Dr. Ram Prakash opposed the move saying that Kurukshetra University has earned its name during 58 years of its inception and it would be injustice to the residents of Kurukshetra if University’s name is changed.

An eminent 85 years old academician associated with RSS, Dr. Himmat Singh Sinha, observed that changing name would require amendment in Kurukshetra University Act by the Haryana assembly, and hoped that by that time good sense would prevail.