Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 22: The Karnataka BJP has strongly opposed the Congress-led state government's move to shut down nine newly established universities, pledging to launch a state-wide agitation against the decision.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra slammed the government's proposal as "foolish" and "unscientific." He emphasized that these universities were set up to expand higher education opportunities, particularly for rural students, and their closure would be a grave mistake. He assured that the BJP would stand in solidarity with student organizations and public representatives to resist the move.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organization affiliated with the BJP, has already taken up the issue. On Friday, the ABVP organized a round-table discussion involving education experts, senior officials, and legislators. The discussion focused on a report submitted by a state cabinet subcommittee, which recommended closing the universities due to an estimated financial shortfall of Rs 350 crore over the next five years.

Vijayendra condemned the government’s financial reasoning, asserting that the previous BJP administration had established these institutions under the "One District, One University" model to ensure equitable access to education. He criticized the Congress government for prioritizing cost-cutting over students' futures and vowed that his party would not allow the closures to proceed.

In response to growing opposition, the BJP leader announced plans for large-scale protests. He called on political and non-political organizations to unite against what he described as an "irresponsible and anti-student" move.

Meanwhile, deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar defended the subcommittee’s recommendation, stating that the decision was taken after a thorough assessment of the financial viability and functionality of the universities. He assured that the government’s actions would be in the best interests of the state's education system.

Sources indicate that out of the 10 new universities established last year, only Bidar University is fully operational, with 150 affiliated colleges generating substantial revenue. The nine universities facing closure—including those in Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Haveri, Kodagu, Koppal, Bagalkot, Mandya, Maharani Cluster in Bengaluru, and Nrupatunga—have reportedly struggled due to a lack of land and infrastructure.

The move to shut them down comes less than a year after former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai inaugurated these institutions on March 23, 2023. At the time, Bommai had hailed them as "future-writing centres," making the current government’s decision even more contentious.