Govt won't let universities become a 'centre of poltics': Ramesh Pokhriyal in Srinagar

Union Minister of Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal on Friday said that government will not let universities become "centre of politics".

"We cannot keep our students entangled in petty issues. We will not let universities become a centre of politics. We will never allow it," said Pokhriyal while speaking to media persons.

Minister's remarks come during his visit to Srinagar as he was a part of Centre's special public outreach programme for Jammu and Kashmir under which delegation of cabinet ministers is supposed to interact with people and educate m about various schemes of government.

y will also disseminate information about importance of Centre's policies for overall development of Union Territory and its people along with steps taken by government particularly in past five months after abrogation of Article 370 provisions and bifurcation of erstwhile state.

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Earlier on January 6, HRD Minister said that universities are centres of learning and will not be allowed to become "das" of politics. minister was replying to questions from reporters in Haldwani on Sunday about protests against amended Citizenship Act across university campuses.

"Universities are centres of learning where country's future is in making. We cannot let m become das of politics," Pokhriyal said. He accused opposition parties of trying to turn universities into hotbeds of politics.

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new legislation passed by Parliament aims to grant citizenship to persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Banglesh and Afghanistan who h taken refuge in India and re is nothing wrong in it, Union Minister said.

"When Pakistan was created, population of religious minorities re stood at 22 per cent. Today it is a minuscule 3.7 per cent. Persecuted on basis of ir religion, y sought sanctuary in India. CAA is meant only to grant m citizenship," he said.

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(with inputs from agencies)

(image credits: PTI)