Kerala CM should apologise and accept state government's mistake: Union Minister amid political appointments in university

Hitting the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the issue of alleged political appointments in the state universities, Union Minister V Muraleedharan said that CM should apologise and accept the state government's mistake.

 

While speaking to media, MoS External Affairs V Muraleedharan said, "On the issue of political interference in various positions in university, CM today moved the needle to suspicion towards Governor saying that it was with the due agreement of Governor that procedure was violated."

 

"CM should apologise and accept state government's mistake. He should assure the State that sanctity of the Governor's post and autonomy of universities will be protected," he added.

 

This comes after, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had written to CM Vijayan over political appointments in Universities of the state. Governor informed Vijayan that he was ready to sign immediately if the latter brings an ordinance to amend the Acts empowering the chief minister to become the Chancellor of universities.

 

 

 

He had said, "My advice to you is to amend Acts of universities and you personally assume the position of Chancellor so that you can carry out your political objectives without any dependence on Governor." He also slammed the LDF government saying political interference in higher educational institutions has become “unbearable” for him.

 

In the letter to the CM, Khan had said, "The existing scene today is that the authorities Of the universities are packed with political nominees and non-academics are taking academic decisions."

 

 

Following which, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday denied the allegations and said his government has not tried to take away the rights of the chancellor and will never try.

 

"University chancellor post is not something that we desire. We do not have any such intention. The government has not made any such move. What government wishes is that the Governor should continue in that post," he said. The Chief Minister further said that Chancellor's rights are given through law.

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