War of words erupts as Bengal says no to ‘surgical strike day’

Kolkata/New Delhi, September 21 

A political row broke out on Friday over the UGC communication to varsities to observe September 29 as “Surgical strike day” with the ruling TMC in West Bengal saying it will not be followed in the state and joined the Congress to allege the move was part of BJP’s political agenda but the Centre asserted this reflected patriotism and not politics.

The Centre, however, said it is not compulsory for the universities and the higher educational institutions to celebrate the second anniversary of the surgical strikes on terror camps in PoK. An advisory, not a direction, has been issued to universities, said Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar.

Talk sessions by ex-servicemen about sacrifices by the armed forces, special parades by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and visit to exhibitions are among the prescribed events by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the celebration. Colleges have been asked to organise parades by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and lectures by ex-army officers.

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee criticised the BJP-led central government for trying to “malign and politicise” the Army and said educational institutes will not abide by UGC’s directive.

“We would have understood it had they asked us to observe the day in the name of sacrifices made by our soldiers. We have full respect for our soldiers and their sacrifices.” “The Indian Army has always been kept above politics and controversies. But now we are seeing that the BJP is trying to malign and politicise the Indian Army. This is not right and we won’t support it,” Chatterjee said.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal sarcastically asked whether the UGC would “dare” to celebrate November 8, the day when demonetisation was announced in 2016, as ‘surgical strike day’. “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?” Sibal tweeted.

Javadekar, a senior BJP leader, rejected the criticism by opposition parties as “absolutely ridiculous and false”. He told reporters in Delhi the ruling BJP differed with the Congress as it only gave advice to institutes to follow a programme while the Opposition party made its decisions compulsory when it was in power. He said students needed to be informed about the surgical strikes, and what military and civil works soldiers do. — PTI

‘It’s BJP agenda’

BJP is trying to push this agenda by using the UGC ahead of elections. It is a matter of shame they are using UGC to achieve their political agenda — Partha Chatterjee, WB minister

‘Mark DeMo Day too’

Will the UGC dare celebrate November 8 as surgical strike day, depriving the poor of their livelihoods? This is another jumla! — Kapil Sibal, former HRD minister

‘It’s patriotism’ 

The UGC communication reflected patriotism, not politics, and it is not compulsory for the academic institutions to organise any such event — Prakash Javadekar, HRD minister