New Delhi:
An article in
Organiser - the mouthpiece of BJP's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh - has alleged that prestigious institutes like IITs were being turned into places for "anti-India and anti-Hindu" activities.
The article also took on the IIMs' opposition to some of the government's moves - including the draft IIM Bill, and argued that the Left and the Congress "still control the premium institutes" through the Board of Governors and Directors.
Claiming that non-vegetarian food is served at IIT Roorkee "in the holy city of Haridwar" and students at NIT, Rourkela, were "stopped" from holding a
puja in community hall during the UPA regime, the article said the incidents show "these government-funded institutes were becoming a place for anti-India and anti-Hindu activities."
"Faculties with low morals are misguiding students... The Board of Governors should also be made responsible for anti-India and anti-Hindu activities being carried out at the institutes," the article said.
The article also targeted Anil Kakodkar - noted nuclear scientist and former chairman of the Board of Governors, IIT Bombay - and AM Naik, chairman of IIM Ahmedabad for their criticism of the HRD ministry.
Taking a dig at Mr Kakodkar, the article said he had accused HRD minister Smriti Irani of taking IIT directors' recruitment "casually" but did not say a word over the "Kiss of Love" protest by IIT Bombay faculty and students.
As for the IIMs, the article argued that the draft IIM bill will make it difficult for political parties to control the appointment of directors and chairpersons, which was why many people were opposing it. It claimed that officials linked with the Left and the Congress were being appointed to these institutions.
Several older IIMs have criticised the draft bill prepared by the ministry, which, critics say, will give sweeping powers to the government in running the institutions.
Mr Naik's reported comments against the draft bill were also criticised in the article, which said the "ethics" applicable to Board of Directors in the corporate world should also be applicable to the board in these institutes.