Surgical Strike Day on September 29: UGC Tells Vice Chancellors of All Universities to Undertake Activities, Opposition Leaders Fume
The prescribed events by the University Grants Commission for the celebration include talk sessions by ex-servicemen about sacrifices by the armed forces, special parades by NCC and visit exhibitions among other events.
New Delhi, Sep 21: Following the government's decision of celebrating September 29 as 'Surgical Strike Day', the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Friday issued circular to the vice-chancellors of all universities providing a list of activities which may be undertaken to celebrate the 'Surgical Strike Day'. The prescribed events by the University Grants Commission for the celebration include talk sessions by ex-servicemen about sacrifices by the armed forces, special parades by NCC and visit exhibitions among other events.
Meanwhile, the HRD Ministry sources were quoted by ANI saying that the circular issued by the UGC is only advisory in nature, not mandatory or imposed. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said on the anniversary of the surgical strike on 29th September, colleges that are interested can arrange a lecture by ex-army officers who can tell the students how defence forces defend the country and how the surgical strike was conducted.
Javadekar further added there is no politics involved in the government's decision, it is only patriotism. He added saying that the Ministry never mandates anything but suggests and issues advisory. "We have not made any compulsions on institutions or students. We have issued a program because of suggestions from many students & teachers that they need to commemorate the second anniversary of the surgical strike", Javadekar added. Surgical Strikes Videos: Pakistan Rejects Footage, Calls it 'Figment of India's Imagination'.
The government's decision to celebrate the Surgical Strike Day drew criticism from many leaders of the opposition parties. The government's decision prompted former Union Minister Kapil Sibal to decry "another jumla". "UGC directs VC’s of all universities to celebrate 29th September as Surgical Strike Day. Is this meant to educate or to serve BJP’s political ends? Will UGC dare celebrate 8th November as Surgical Strike Day depriving the poor of their livelihoods? This another jumla! ", Sibal tweeted.
"I don't think since independence, we have seen UGC giving any kind of directive of this nature to universities. For UGC, to give a directive is destroying the very independence of the university system", Kapil Sibal added.
Meanwhile, West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee on Friday criticised the BJP-led central government for trying to "malign and politicise" the Army and said educational institutes in West Bengal will not be a part of the 'Surgical Strike Day' celebration. Chatterjee claimed that this is an agenda of the BJP and it is trying to push this agenda by using the UGC ahead of elections. "It is a matter of shame that they are using the UGC to achieve their political agenda," Chatterjee added.
The Indian Army had carried out surgical strikes on seven terrorist launchpads across the LoC on 29th September 2016 as a response to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month. Reports quoted the Indian Army saying that its special forces inflicted significant casualties on terrorists waiting there to cross onto the Indian territory.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 21, 2018 01:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).