UP house to take up bill on minority university

Lucknow, Apr 24: Even as assembly elections are underway in Uttar Pradesh to elect a new house before May 13, the Mulayam Singh Yadav government is holding an assembly sitting tomorrow to pass a new bill to provide minority status to a private university.

The Opposition has dubbed the move a clear-cut violation of the model code of conduct.

The winter session of the 14th assembly which started on January 18, will be meeting tomorrow after its last sitting on March 12.

According to assembly sources, Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey, who has contested the election from Itwa assembly, seat in Sidharthnagar where polling was held yesterday, has confirmed the house sitting.

The government is expected to bring a new bill in the house to provide minority status to Maulana Mohammad Ali Jahaur Private University in Rampur where state Urban Development minister Mohammad Azam Khan is life-time pro vice chancellor.

In the sitting, the government might also withdraw the bill, which had been sent for Presidential reference by state governor T V Rajeswar for setting up the Mohammad Ali Jahaur University under the government sector.

However, giving minority status to any private university during the elections attracts violation of model code of conduct and is likely to be prevented by the Election Commission(EC).

Earlier, the sitting of the house was slated on March 29 and then on April 10, but it was postponed due to the ongoing assembly elections.

UNI