Today

Congress consensus not sought over foreign varsity bill

March 19, 2010


New Delhi: Where on one hand the Left and the BJP are vehemently determined to oppose the Foreign Universities Bill, there is a rumbling heard even in Congress.

There are serious misgivings in the Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Kapil Sibal's party over the Bill, even though he is being celebrated for the initiative.

The dissent comes from the senior leaders on the fact that they were not sounded out on the measure, revealed a senior party member on the condition of anonymity.

He clearly ruled out any unanimity among them over the Bill cleared by the Cabinet, which was welcomed considerably by media.

He conveyed many concerns within the party over the radical step taken to reform higher education scenario in India.

Listing out some of them, he said that the background of the intended institution would require a thorough check before allocating them a land to set up their campus.

His apprehensions also extended to the fact that whether the campuses would be put to uses other than education and stressed on the need for a close scrutiny on such issues.

Such remarks from the members clearly show the rift between the party on the one hand, and government's big ticket policy initiatives, on the other.

According to the sources, the Bill was rushed to the Cabinet without consulting the party as the members complain that the last meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party did not kept them in the loop over important issues.



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