Separate politics from edu institutions: HP CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday called for a “merit-based” representation of student leaders in educational institutions and urged to separate politics from varsities to avoid increasing violence by student organisations.

During his interaction with the NAAC team who is visiting Himachal Pradesh University, Singh said, politics has become “bane” of the universities across the country with elections marked with violence and turbulence.

“I agree that there should be representation of student leaders but it should be on the basis of merit and totally opposed to demand of student organisations for direct elections in institutions of higher education as it vitiates the academic atmosphere,” Singh said.

There are mischief mongers who enroll themselves for registering their presence in the campus and indulge in politics, spoiling the academic peace, Singh said, adding that“growing violence in universities and colleges, pose unseen threat to the education system and should be controlled by adopting necessary steps.” 

“Being a student of St Stephen college (Delhi) I never took part in student politics though we had our own student body elected on merit,” he said and appealed for maintaining discipline in the campus.

He also asked the teachers not to impose their political ideology on students.