Daijiworld Media Network - Mandya
Mandya, Mar 2: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) staged a strong protest in Mandya on Saturday against the Congress-led Karnataka government’s decision to shut down Mandya University, which was established during the previous BJP government’s tenure.
Addressing the gathering, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, R. Ashoka, lashed out at the Congress government, accusing it of closing universities under the pretext of financial unviability.
"Mandya has long struggled in the field of education. The BJP government had sanctioned nine new universities to uplift backward districts, but the Congress government is now shutting them down. A report claims these universities are not ‘profitable,’ which clearly shows that the government views education as a business,” he alleged.
Ashoka went on to attack Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, accusing them of financial mismanagement.
"Siddaramaiah has taken the highest loans among all former CMs. This time, the government has borrowed Rs 1 lakh crore. While bars that were previously shut are being reopened, universities are being closed. Running all universities requires only Rs 252 crore. If there is money for freebies, why not for education?" he questioned.
He further warned that the people of Mandya would fight for education just as they have fought for water rights.
"If the government is struggling financially, let them say so openly. We, the people of Mandya, will come together and run the university ourselves,” he declared.
Continuing his attack, Ashoka accused the Congress government of prioritizing liquor sales over education.
"The Congress has reduced Karnataka to a financial mess with its guarantee schemes. Universities were set up to strengthen education in districts like Mandya and Chamarajanagar, but now, instead of running them, the government might as well replace them with liquor shops," he taunted.
He also took a swipe at the Congress high command over its silence on Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar's recent actions.
"When Shivakumar attended the Kumbh Mela, met the Prime Minister, and praised the UP Chief Minister, the Congress leadership remained silent. He even visited the Isha Foundation. If the Congress high command has the guts, let them suspend him," Ashoka challenged.
Asserting that the BJP would continue to fight for students’ rights, Ashoka vowed to take the matter up in the Assembly.