Team to inspect ideal site for setting up Central University

Dharmshala, Sep 2 (UNI) The UPA government has decided to depute a Site Inspection Committee for selecting the most viable land and suitable infrastructure for establishing a Central University in the Kangra district.

Member of Lok Sabha Chander Kumar said this while addressing a press conference in the local PWD rest house here yesterday.

He said the committee was formulated, following his request to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh.

He ridiculed Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for his announcement, which he alleged was made without proper assessment that the Central University would be set up at Dehra. He said the Chief Minister was politicising the issue and creating disharmony among the people of Kangra as Dehra is part of Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by his son Anurag Thakur.

Replying to a question, Mr Chander Kumar said the most suitable location for setting up the University would be at Mahal Tea Estate and the second option would be near ITI Shahpur.

He said the Central University would be an institute of excellence and center of knowledge and the UPA had sanctioned to set up the University in Dharamshala or a near by place.

He described communal scenario in Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir as unfortunate and demanded the VHP, Bajrang Dal, ABVP and SIMI be banned in the larger interest of the country. When asked why the PDP a coalition partner of the Congress should not be banned for its anti -national activities the Minister simply brushed the question aside.

He said communal riots, which was shattering the socio-economic fabric of the country must be controlled. He demanded that the Election Commission should play its role of keeping an eye on the communal activities of some political parties and these parties should not be allowed to participate in the Lok Sabha polls in days to come.

Criticising the BJP for transfering employees, he said 80 per cent of employees of the state has been transferred. ''This has resulted in leaving hospitals and schools without doctors and teachers respectively,'' he added.

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