Pass resolution against UGC’s new rules: Vinod Kumar

Hyderabad: Senior BRS party leader and former MP B Vinod Kumar today said several States were protesting against the new rules of the University Grants Commission (UGC). He demanded that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy should pass a resolution against the UGC draft rules in the Telangana Assembly.

Speaking to media persons at Telangana Bhavan here today, he said the Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a resolution against the UGC regulations and added that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin slammed the Central government for burning the spirit of federalism. “The Kerala CM also opposed the UGC's proposal. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who belongs to the JD (U), also opposed the UGC's proposal, even though his party is a partner of the NDA. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is yet to respond. Though Revanth Reddy is the Congress Chief Minister, he is not responding to the UGC draft. We demand a resolution against the UGC draft in the Telangana Assembly," Kumar said.

The former MP said the BRS party’s views were sent to the UGC chairman Jagadish Kumar on Friday. He said the UGC draft was in a manner that takes away the rights of the States. “We demand that the new proposals be withdrawn immediately. It is undemocratic to give power to the Governor to appoint the VCs. The money has to be spent by the State government. Will the Centre appoint VCs,” Vinod Kumar asked and made it clear that this is against the federal spirit.

Stating that they are also strongly opposed to any attempt to change the rules for appointment of professors, he said with the new rules, the Centre would be empowered to appoint those persons of their choice even if they do not have any teaching experience. “We are also opposed to this. We will soon meet Union Education Minister Devendra Pradhan and apprise him of the BRS party's objections to the UGC draft. We will meet Nitin Gadkari and submit a memorandum regarding national highways in Telangana,” he said. Vinod Kumar said the pending national highways projects in Siddipet, Sircilla and Vemulawada would be discussed during their meeting.