Row over ‘name change’ of Dyal Singh college

A controversy erupted on Tuesday after Delhi University fraternity found out that the management of Dyal Singh College (Evening) had renamed the college as "Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College".

The administration put up banners of the new name at the annual prize distribution function, reported The Tribune.

The Tribune further reported that Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa had issued a statement condemning the move. "The Sikh community is shocked at the intrigues of Dyal Singh College chairman Amitabh Sinha and Delhi University VC Yogesh Tyagi, who have connived to change the college name to Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College," the statement said.It added that the renaming took place despite Javadekar's assurance in the Parliament.

However, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry will not allow Dyal Singh College (Evening) to be renamed and will take action against its management committee for doing so without consent, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said here today.

"We had earlier also asked them to reconsider the move. We will not allow the college to be renamed. If there are two Dyal Singh colleges, they can call them A and B or 1 and 2 to differentiate but the original name cannot be changed," the minister told reporters.

The minister's comments came following reports that the management had quietly renamed the college with banners of 'Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College' being put up.

"The ministry will take action against the college management committee for going ahead with the renaming despite me making a statement in Parliament that it cannot be done," Javadear added.

A controversy had erupted last year with various sections vehemently opposing the move to rename the college.Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had last year announced in Parliament that the college renaming was not the Centre's decision.

OneIndia News (with agency inputs)