Happenings in 2-3 universities spoiling image: Naidu

Gurgaon, Mar 7: Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said out of 740 universities in the country, happenings in two or three of them are spoiling "image", in remarks that came against the backdrop of controversies in JNU and Hyderabad Central University.

"There are 740 universities in the country. 737 university students are focusing their attention on studies, academic excellence only, nothing else, everything is peaceful. But because of happening in 2-3 places the image is gone.

We should not allow such things to happen in future," he said at the 'Happening Haryana' global investor summit. JNUSU president Kanhaiya was slapped with sedition charge for allegedly raising anti-national slogans during the protest against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on his third death anniversary last month.

There was outrage over suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula at the Hyderabad Central University. Naidu said "unfortunately" in India there is also a tendency in "some the section of media" to blow things out of proportion and make things if everything is going wrong.

Referring to the Jat agitation, Naidu said what happened in the state should never allowed to be repeated. "We should draw lessons from that and there has to be repentance on that also because you cannot have such things here.

There is nothing wrong in making a demand, asking for anything, but there is democratic method and everybody has to follow, otherwise name would be spoiled and people would be hesitating," he said.

In wake of the agitation, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said many people "in and outside my government", suggested to reconsider holding the investor Summit.

"I knew that the right action was to carry on with this summit sans the frills and celebrations. Natural calamities and law and order disturbances are risks in all locations in the world. What really matters is, how the Government responds," he said.

PTI