Thiruvananthapuram | Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said the state government should strongly oppose the Governor's intervention in the affairs of universities, alleging that it has failed to resist actions affecting higher education in the state.
The Governor, as Chancellor of state universities, has been at loggerheads with successive LDF and UDF governments over the appointment of vice chancellors and nominations to university senates and syndicates.
Both fronts have alleged that Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been appointing persons affiliated to the BJP and the Sangh Parivar to key university bodies.
Responding to a question on state Higher Education Minister Roji M John's appeal to Kerala MPs to oppose the proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill in Parliament, Vijayan said there were several pressing issues confronting the higher education sector in the state itself.
"In Kerala's case, it is the Governor who has caused the biggest trouble in higher education. Look at the positions he has taken on MG University, the appointment of Vice Chancellors and other university matters. What stand has the UDF government taken on these issues?" he asked.
The senior CPI(M) leader also alleged that the restructuring of university senates had resulted in the induction of Sangh Parivar sympathisers.
"Shouldn't such actions be questioned? Should we simply stand aside saying we do not want a confrontation?" Vijayan asked.
Referring to the proposed VBSA Bill, he said the LDF would oppose it.
"When such a Bill comes up, we will oppose it. There is no doubt about that," he said.
Vijayan also criticised the reported move to alter the online system for disbursing assistance from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).
He said the online mechanism introduced by the previous LDF government had eliminated the need for political recommendations by enabling applications and supporting documents to be submitted digitally, with assistance being sanctioned based on eligibility.
"The system ensured that people received assistance without depending on anyone's intervention. There were no complaints about it," he said.
Alleging that the present government was attempting to dismantle the online mechanism, Vijayan said such a move would revive the old "commission raj".
"It appears that these changes are being introduced to satisfy certain local interests. They will only bring back the old commission system. Under no circumstances should the existing online system be dismantled. It can be strengthened further if required, but we should not go backwards. We should not create opportunities for middlemen to exploit people in distress," he alleged.
On the CPI's demand for the post of Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Vijayan reiterated that the issue had already been settled.
"I am standing by the same position. That issue is over. Has there ever been such an issue in Kerala before? When there is no issue, what is there to discuss?" he said.
Asked about LDF convenor TP Ramakrishnan's decision to meet with CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam on the matter, Vijayan said he has no objection.
"That is a different matter. There is no problem with that," he said.