Name new DU college Manmohan Singh instead of Savarkar, NSUI urges PM Modi
NEW DELHI: The announcement of inaugurating a college named after right-wing ideologue VD Savarkar unleashed a political row with the Congress and its student wing, the NSUI, demanding to rename it after late Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh instead.
With PM Narendra Modi expected to lay the foundation stone for the Savarkar College on Friday, the NSUI wrote a letter to the PM making three demands.
The demands included: “a world-class college under the University of Delhi named after Dr Manmohan Singh; a central university dedicated to his name; inclusion of his life journey — from a post-Partition student to a global icon — in academic curricula and political sphere.”
“Dr. Singh’s legacy as a scholar, economist, and public servant embodies resilience... Naming institutions after him will inspire generations,” the letter read.
The Congress pointed out that there are numerous freedom fighters in the country, and the government can choose from that pool.
Congress MP Dr Syed Naseer Hussain stated, “There were many freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty and freedom of the country. Had they named the college after either one of them, it would have been a tribute to them.”
“But since the BJP has no leaders or icons, they are promoting and legitimising those who supported the British Raj,” he added.
As regards the college, it will be constructed in Roshanpura, Najafgarh, at an estimated cost of Rs 140 crore. PM Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the project, along with two other major initiatives for DU — an academic block on the eastern campus at Surajmal Vihar in east Delhi and another academic block on the western campus in Dwarka. Together, these projects represent an investment exceeding Rs 600 crore and aim to provide state-of-the-art facilities for education and research.
Meanwhile, commenting on it, the DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh said, “We can’t be more proud to learn that now the University of Delhi will have campuses in all directions- North, South, East and West. The Prime Minister will be inaugurating these three projects tomorrow, and his purpose is to offer affordable and good education to all students. Through these projects, we will create new seats and new opportunities for the students.”
He further said, “The project will be completed in approximately two years, and we thank the government for providing us with funding of `600 crore for this entire project.
We have made arrangements to broadcast the footage live when the PM inaugurates the campuses.”
College to come up in Roshanpura
Savarkar College will be constructed in Roshanpura, Najafgarh, at an estimated cost of Rs 140 crore.
PM Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the project, along with two other major initiatives for DU — an academic block in Surajmal Vihar in east Delhi and another block on the western campus in Dwarka.
Together, these projects represent an investment exceeding Rs 600 crore