Assam Congress Criticizes BJP Government Over Education Crisis
Gaurav Gogoi's Strong Critique of Education Policies
Guwahati, Jan 3: In light of the ongoing turmoil surrounding the removal of the Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University, Gaurav Gogoi, the president of the Assam Congress, has launched a fierce critique against the BJP-led administration, accusing it of systematically dismantling the education sector in the state.
During a press conference held in Tinsukia, Gogoi, who leads the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), asserted that Tezpur University was once recognized as one of the top ten universities in India during the Congress's governance, but has since experienced a significant decline.
“Look at its current status. While students may be receiving stipends, educational institutions throughout Assam are deteriorating. Scandals are emerging at places like Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University,” Gogoi claimed.
He raised concerns regarding the appointment of Shambhu Nath Singh as the Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University, alleging that Singh had previously faced accusations of financial misconduct during his time at Patna University.
“When he served as VC at Patna University, similar allegations were made against him under the Nitish Kumar administration, which is part of the NDA. Yet, he was appointed here. Students had to take matters into their own hands to demand an investigation. The Chief Minister attempted to conceal the truth. This illustrates the current state of higher education in Assam,” Gogoi stated.
Recently, the Union Ministry of Education directed Singh to take immediate leave and established a three-member inquiry panel to investigate the allegations against him.
Tezpur University has been the site of protests since mid-September due to alleged irregularities during Singh's administration.
“An inquiry committee has been formed to look into all issues related to the current situation at Tezpur University, including the allegations against the Vice Chancellor,” an official from the ministry confirmed.
The committee is expected to submit its findings within three months, and will be led by N. Lokendra Singh, the Vice Chancellor of Manipur University, with Jagadish Kumar Patnaik from Nagaland University and UGC Secretary Manish R. Joshi as members.