In the wake of the resignation of the Chancellor of Nalanda University George Yeo, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has strongly written to Sushma Swaraj, the Union External Affairs minister where he pointed out Centre’s intervention in the functioning of the University and urged the Central Government not to tamper with affairs of Nalanda.
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Disappointed over the incident, the Chief Minster in his two-page letter said that the Chancellor alleged that he was not taken into confidence over the issue of dissolving the previous governing board and constituting a new board. The Chancellor had resigned from his post citing Union Government's intervention that affected the autonomy of the institute. Kumar also in his letter warned that the stakeholders are worried about the way the University is headed and functioning.
He also emphasised on the fact that a very important decision was taken without even consulting the University's Chancellor and it is very disturbing as it raises questions about the University's autonomy. He raised a question on the constitution of the new governing body by the Central Government without any amendment in the Nalanda University Act, 2010. There are certain drawbacks in provisions related to the formulation of the governing body, the CM said.
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Nitish Kumar believes that the University will definitely flourish if academic autonomy is allowed and maintained to the fullest. Adding to that he said that his movement is committed to supporting the University.
The Union Government had justified its action on the ground that changes were brought out to give legality to the institute and end the present ad-hoc arrangement.
Bihar CM is the first politician to moot the idea of reviving the lost glory of this ancient University and turn it into Nalanda International University.