Association with the Aam Admi Party (AAP) is likely to cost social scientist and psephologist Yogendra Yadav his membership of the board of the University Grants Commission.
In a show-cause notice on Wednesday, the Human Resources Development ministry’s Department of Higher Education questioned Yadav has been asked “why the Central government under Clause 6 of UGC Rules, 1992, should not retire him from the post of Member, UGC, with immediate effect”.
Responding to the letter, Yadav told Express: “In my capacity as a citizen, I joined the anti-corruption movement demanding Jan Lokpal and was one of the signatories to the appeal for the formation of a new political party...I was one of the founding members and serve on its national executive. As in the case of university teachers, my service conditions do not bar me from active participation in democratic politics. There is nothing in the AAP’s ideology, vision or policies, which creates any conflict of interest with the objectives or functions of the UGC.”
“As for conflict of interest, the UGC has adopted a formal policy on conflict of interest and code of conduct for the members of the commission. This policy does not mention political activity as a potential conflict of interest,” he said.
The matter has taken a political turn with Yadav alleging that his opposition to the setting up of an inter-university centre on teacher training in HRD Minister Pallam Raju’s constituency, Kakinada, was the trigger behind the government’s move.
As Yadav vehemently refused to resign, the issue has evoked mixed responses in academic circles.