In a letter to the Union Minister of Human Resources Development, Kapil Sibal, he criticized his recent decision to set up the Central University of Bihar in Gaya instead of Motihari. Such a move would be “a blow to people’s sentiment in Bihar.”

The letter said that there was no need to set up the Central University in Gaya because Magadh University, campus-wise largest varsity in Bihar, was already functioning there.

Nitish said that if Centre wanted to set up the Central University, then it should accept the state government’s proposal for setting it up in Motihari, the headquarters of East Champaran district, from where Mahatma Gandhi launched his movement against indigo planters.

The state government was ready to make available land to the Centre free of cost for the purpose. The chief minister further said the state was capable to set up a university on its own and it did not require resources from any quarter.

The state government received the letter from the Centre on Feb 15 stating that Gaya has been selected for the purpose of opening the CUB.
The Centre has repeatedly been stating that it is not for or against Motihari. The problem with Motihari is that it does not fulfil the criteria laid down by the Centre for the creation of CUB in 14 states in the country. The Centre repeatedly said that it is the state government which is making it a political issue. The land allotted in Motihari is waterlogged, besides, it lacked infrastructure and linkages. A central team had already visited the spot identified by the state government and rejected it.

The Union Ministry of Human Resources had already stated earlier that if the state government did not provide land it would purchase it on its own to set up the CUB at suitable place.
Sources said that the Centre already has land in Gaya following the shifting of the Army Service Corps to Bangalore. But it is also true that the Army has set up Officers’ Training Academy in its place.

The state government had in the past already forced the Centre to change its decision to open the off campus branch of the AMU from Katihar to Kishanganj.

Academics in Bihar squarely blame the Nitish Kumar government for politicizing the issue for no rhyme or reason. “The objective of Central University is different. What is wrong if it is is set up in Gaya, which has road, rail and air linkages and is not situated in the flood-prone area. By Nitish Kumar’s logic there should be no IIT in Patna as it already has NIT, Maulana Azad College of Engineering and Technology and Patna Institute of Technology. If Mahatma Gandhi launched his movement in Champaran Mahatma Buddha is associated with Gaya,” said one of them.

Sources said that the state government is in a bind as several real estate dealers have purchased land in the vicinity of the proposed site for CUB in Motihari. Now they are feeling let down.

In a letter to the Union Minister of Human Resources Development, Kapil Sibal, he criticized his recent decision to set up the Central University of Bihar in Gaya instead of Motihari. Such a move would be “a blow to people’s sentiment in Bihar.”

The letter said that there was no need to set up the Central University in Gaya because Magadh University, campus-wise largest varsity in Bihar, was already functioning there.

Nitish said that if Centre wanted to set up the Central University, then it should accept the state government’s proposal for setting it up in Motihari, the headquarters of East Champaran district, from where Mahatma Gandhi launched his movement against indigo planters.

The state government was ready to make available land to the Centre free of cost for the purpose. The chief minister further said the state was capable to set up a university on its own and it did not require resources from any quarter.

The state government received the letter from the Centre on Feb 15 stating that Gaya has been selected for the purpose of opening the CUB.
The Centre has repeatedly been stating that it is not for or against Motihari. The problem with Motihari is that it does not fulfil the criteria laid down by the Centre for the creation of CUB in 14 states in the country. The Centre repeatedly said that it is the state government which is making it a political issue. The land allotted in Motihari is waterlogged, besides, it lacked infrastructure and linkages. A central team had already visited the spot identified by the state government and rejected it.

The Union Ministry of Human Resources had already stated earlier that if the state government did not provide land it would purchase it on its own to set up the CUB at suitable place.
Sources said that the Centre already has land in Gaya following the shifting of the Army Service Corps to Bangalore. But it is also true that the Army has set up Officers’ Training Academy in its place.

The state government had in the past already forced the Centre to change its decision to open the off campus branch of the AMU from Katihar to Kishanganj.

Academics in Bihar squarely blame the Nitish Kumar government for politicizing the issue for no rhyme or reason. “The objective of Central University is different. What is wrong if it is is set up in Gaya, which has road, rail and air linkages and is not situated in the flood-prone area. By Nitish Kumar’s logic there should be no IIT in Patna as it already has NIT, Maulana Azad College of Engineering and Technology and Patna Institute of Technology. If Mahatma Gandhi launched his movement in Champaran Mahatma Buddha is associated with Gaya,” said one of them.

Sources said that the state government is in a bind as several real estate dealers have purchased land in the vicinity of the proposed site for CUB in Motihari. Now they are feeling let down.

Comment

comments...