"I agree that there should be representation by student leaders, but it should be on merit. I oppose the stands of students on direct election, which sometimes leads to turmoil and riots in the campus affecting studies of students and vitiating the academic atmosphere", said Virbhadra Singh.
The selection of student bodies should be on basis of merit, he said. There were some people whose policy was to do mischief, he said adding that they did not enrol themselves for studying but to enrol their cadre and want their presence to be felt by creating fear in students and politicising the academic atmosphere. The growing violence in universities and colleges, pose unseen threat to the education system all over should be controlled and there was a need for adopting necessary steps in this direction, he stressed upon. "I being a student of Saint Stephen college, Delhi, never took part in student politics though we had our own student body elected on merit, he said.
He called for maintaining discipline in the campus and the teachers should not try to impose their personal ideology upon the students when it comes to teaching profession. He exhorted that teachers should not be part of politics though they were free to vote in Assembly or Lok Sabha elections but they could not be 'preachers of politics' and could not hold any political office in educational institutions.
The Teachers should abstain from showing their political colours in universities and they have no right and business to meddle in student union elections. "It is high time that we must separate politics from educational institutions", he said.
The Chief Minister said that teachers should, keep their idealistic nature and speculations aside and believe in teaching the right values, the discipline to the students. The discipline should not be confined or targeted to, by creating a sense of fear in the students, but it should be to make them learn in righteous manner, as it was also a part of discipline. "Learning itself is a process of discipline", he said adding that the students should also realise the importance of discipline in life.
" I have passion for education and I had no intention of entering into politics, he said adding that I wanted to be a professor in Delhi University or if I would not have been there, may be in some other University", he said. Virbhadra Singh said "It was Lal Bahadur Shashtri who took me to Indira Gandhi and to Jawahar Lal Nehru from where my political career began. I was told that I was being given Lok Sabha ticket from Mahasu constituency and I should keep it a secret". Recalling his past, he said that he never shared this secret with his family also. One day, it was a surprise for everyone when it appeared in Door-Darshan news about his candidature from Mahasu for Lok Sabha and since that very day he was with Congress in it's good and bad and will be with Congress Party till he was alive, he said.
The Chief Minister said that around 200 bighas of land had been identified near Ghannahatti for setting up another campus of University as there was no scope of expansion at the present site. New hostels, education blocks would come up there. He said that the financial assistance for the University had been enhanced from Rs 79 to Rs 90 crore and more grants would be given in times to come.
The State government was committed to strengthen the education sector in the State as we believe that everything comes from education and one can find its way in the light of education to contribute to build a healthy and prosperous Nation. The State government has opened or upgraded over 1010 schools in the State during last 45 months taking the total strength of schools to 15500. 24 ITI's, two Engineering Colleges and 41 colleges have been opened in the State during the present tenure of the Government taking total strength of colleges to 115 in the state, he said. Three medical colleges were coming up at Hamirpur, Chamba and the one at Nahan has started functioning, said he. He also detailed about his priorities including the development taken place in Roads, Health, Drinking water and Irrigation, Power sectors.
Chairman of NAAC team, Inder Vardhan Trivedi thanked the Chief Minister for his generosity, honour and thoughtful address.
Vice-Chancellor, ADN Bajpai extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister and said that in term of financial security, HPU was the third such university all over the India.
Chief Secretary, VC Pharka, Advisor to CM, T.G. Negi, Pro Vice Chancellor, R.S. Chauhan, Registrar, Pankaj Lalit, Director Information and Public Relations, R.S. Negi were also present amongst others.
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