Kapil Sibal, Narendra Modi’s promised ‘Aakash’ show turns 'niraash'

The political uproar over the Union government’s decisions to hike fuel prices and allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail may just have prolonged the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IITGn) wait for a permanent campus.    

The foundation stone laying ceremony for IITGn’s 400 acre campus near Palaj scheduled for Saturday was postponed with an official communication citing ‘urgent commitment’ on part of Union minister of human resource development (HRD), Kapil Sibal, as well as chief minister Narendra Modi.

However, sources suggest, Sibal may have found it unwise to come to Gujarat and appear at a public function after the recent protests over the UPA government’s decision to pursue the economic reforms agenda by hiking diesel and cooking gas prices as well as opening up the country’s retail sector to foreign players.

The cancellation of the function disappointed many who were eager to see Sibal share a dais with Modi, who had only recently directed his barbs at the Union minister for his failure to come good on his promise of providing cheap ‘Akash’ tablets to students.

On Teacher’s Day Modi had sarcastically mentioned that Akash had not yet landed on earth though it had been 12 months since the decision was made public. Sibal had, in turn, said that he would gift Modi one tablet himself when he comes to Gujarat next. 

Politics aside, IITGn authorities were keenly waiting to begin work on a permanent campus on the eastern bank of Sabarmati river near Palaj village. IIT- Gn aims to develop the new campus ‘for present needs and immediate future.’

In a message, SK Jain, director of IITGn, states that the new campus would have an attractive ambience. According to Jain, the campus will have functional convenience for the academic community for mutual interaction, learning and research.

The important feature of the new campus is that it will be eco-friendly. It will utilise lower energy, will be economical in consumption of resources, require minimal upkeep and will be maintained at extremely low costs.