'No one except Maharashtra': BJP tells Uddhav govt to avoid politics over UGC's decision

As Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government stated its position on UGC guidelines for conducting college examinations, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Devendra Fadnavis has slammed party and said that it should t be made an "ego" issue. Speaking to reporters on Thursday evening, Fadnavis opined that for well being of students, Maharashtra government should t politicise issue. 

Fadnavis also claimed that state has raised objection to guidelines, except Maharashtra. However, West Bengal's Principal Secretary of Department of Higher Education and School Education Department urged Centre to re-examine matter in interest of physical and mental well-being of students. Congress MP from Tamil Nadu Manickam Tagore also condemned decision.

University Grants Commission (UGC) issued revised guidelines for conducting final year examinations in universities and colleges after Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) gave a d to conduct examinations during Unlock period, even as Coronavirus cases are on rise.

former Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said: "Some ministers in state government are opposed to holding university examinations in view of coronavirus pandemic. Guidelines of University Grants Commission (on holding exams) are t for one state but for entire country. So Maharashtra government should t make it a political ego issue. state has raised objection to se guidelines except Maharashtra. If or states conduct exams and we don't, n what will be value of degrees (conferred on basis of earlier semesters' scores) by educational institutes in Maharashtra."

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Maharashtra COVID count

Maharashtra on Thursday reported 6,875 fresh cases of COVID-19, taking overall tally of confirmed cases to 2,30,599.  death toll rose to 9,667 after 219 patients succumbed to illness.  number of recovered patients jumped by 4,067 in same period to reach 1,27,259. As of July 9, re are 93,652 active cases in Maharashtra.

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't possible to hold examinations': Maha minister

His remarks came two days after Maharashtra minister of technical and higher education Uday Samant said that he has written to HRD Minister urging him to make UGC guidelines on conducting examinations as 'advisory' and t 'mandatory.' He has also said that it will t be possible to conduct final-year exams at universities by September-end amid surge in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra. 

Speaking to PTI, Samant said, "If University Grants Commission (UGC) insists on conducting examinations, n it should also issue proper guidelines for same. I have written to UGC and HRD minister, informing m that it would t be possible to hold final-year examinations in Maharashtra by September-end in view of Covid-19 situation."

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' rift in MVA'

Meanwhile, as cracks in MVA government emerged after former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi triggered a row by attempting to distance Congress from Coronavirus situation in MVA-led Maharashtra, Shiv Sena has asserted that all is well within ruling alliance. Exuding confidence that Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government will complete its full-term, Sena dismissed rumors about rift and opined that y are being spread to project BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as a 'strong opposition.' Terming meeting between NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and CM Uddhav Thackeray as 'etiquette', editorial has said that disagreements among ruling partners exhibit 'liveliness' of government. Sharad Pawar also ruled out reports of fissure within MVA. 

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