Congress leaders wrote letters to the Vice Chancellors of Universities in the city to discourage political programmes in the premises
Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, politics is arising over the usage of educational institutions for political functions in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The Congress alleged that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are misusing their power for political gains.
Congress leaders wrote letters to the Vice Chancellors (VC) of Universities in the city to discourage political programmes in the premises.
Congress leader Ajay Rai wrote a letter to the VCs of Banaras Hindu University, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth and Sampoornanand Sanskrit University to curtail the political functions in the premises.
"The awareness and dialogue programmes are good for students, but the political events are disturbing the environment of the Universities," said Rai, who contested the 2014 general elections on a Congress ticket. He added, "Instead of training the youth to become doctors, engineers and educationists, the government is conspiring to bring out RSS swayamsevaks from universities."
On November 17, the BJP started its Kamal Sandesh Bike rally from Sampoornanand Sanskrit University where CM Yogi Adityanath flagged off a bike rally from the university ground. Later in the day, there was a lecture organised at Banaras Hindu University over the Ram Temple on the death anniversary of Former VHP leader Ashok Suinghal. VHP vice president Champat Rai and BJP MP Subramaian Swamy participated in the event. The event faced opposition from a group of students.
BJP leader Dharmendra Singh said, "Why is there a problem in us trying to propagate our ancient culture among the people and students? We have been taught only the history of the Mughals and the British. We are only informing students of what is right and wrong. If required, we will organise more such functions."
Statements from the two parties suggest that educational institutes will be the arenas for political the upcoming political battle. After the controversies of Aligarh Muslim University and Jawaharlal Nehru Universities, the politicians are eyeing the biggest educational hub of eastern Uttar Pradesh. As the 2019 elections approach, political gains and ground will be sought among the youth of UP.
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