University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Ved Prakash held a secret caste gathering. The chairman hosted a felicitation dinner for Jat MPs and ministers at his official residence at Moti Bagh in the capital recently.
The reception that was attended by 21 Jat MPs and other prominent Jat leaders has not gone down well within the UGC. Those in the UGC feel that the meeting is a desperate attempt by their chairman to seek political protection and will invite political intervention in the UGC. From the UGC, only one joint secretary – Manju Singh – was present at the dinner.
Ved Prakash, however, denied holding any such dinner. "The reception was called by my brother and MP from Baghpat Satya Pal Singh. Since he did not have a bigger space in Delhi so he chose my house," Prakash clarified. The chairman felicitated Jat leaders, including those included in the Modi cabinet recently. "There was exchange of garlands and sweets followed by a dinner hosted by Ved Prakash," said a Jat leader who was present on the occasion.
Former Mumbai police commissioner Satya Pal Singh now MP from Baghpat in western Uttar Pradesh, Ch Bijender Singh, an MP from Haryana, and Sanwar Lal Jat from Rajasthan were reportedly honoured in the meeting. The Jat MPs were, however, quick to add that the meeting was only a social get-together hosted by the UGC chief. "This meeting had no political agenda. The parliament is in session and all Jat leaders are present in Delhi. The meeting was just a social gathering," said Ch Babula, MP from Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh.
Members of the UGC criticised the move. They feel that being an academic body, UGC should disassociate itself from such caste associations which can disrupt the autonomy of the Commission. "It is a deliberate attempt to politicise the UGC and jeopardise the education system. UGC is an academic body and there is no place for such caste-based politics its its system," said UGC Member MM Ansari. Ansari also added that such meetings clearly indicate how political influence plays an important role in the appointments made.
In the recent controversy over Delhi University's four-year undergraduate course, Ved Prakash was at the helm of affairs and was questioned for his role in allowing the university to implement the programme. It then appeared that the Prakash might be asked to quit, but the chairman managed to retain his chair.
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