Lecturer bribing a rowdy-sheeter to get VC’s post is a University’s shame
This seems absurd. A lecturer pays a bribe to get the top post of a university, an institution responsible for shaping our society. And who does he bribe? A rowdy-sheeter who is involved in several criminal cases. The recent incident in which the lecturer of a science department paid a bribe of Rs 17 lakh to rowdy sheeter Prasad Attavar to occupy the top post in his university has come under the scanner and is being discussed extensively. The accused has already been arrested but people are confused about who should be condemned. A rowdy sheeter’s job is to accept bribes and extort money from the gullible. As is his wont, he cheated this lecturer as well.
More than this, the most alarming aspect is the fact that a lecturer who has to mould the future citizens and become a role model attempted to occupy the top-most post in a university by bribing a rowdy-sheeter. This rowdy-sheeter does not only have a criminal background but is also notorious for disturbing the peace and harmony in the name of religion. The fact that a lecturer has such criminals as his friends is itself questionable but society should be more concerned that this lecturer tried to purchase the vice-chancellor’s post. Renowned thinker Dr. Nagaraj writes: “The way politicians view officials with suspicion, we need to look at teachers also with suspicion.” Society does not suspect lecturers the way it suspects politicians, officials, or journalists.
Of late, doctors are also facing criticism and are being attacked by the public. But society still regards teachers with a lot of respect and believes that they will take society forward in the right direction. But now the situation has changed. Like politicians, officials, seers, lecturers are also becoming dangerous. Society seems to have adopted a lenient stand towards lecturers who don’t appear dangerous unlike politicians or police officials who wield unbridled power. But today, lecturers and teachers are successfully sowing seeds of intolerance and divisiveness among students in colleges and schools. Students who are on the threshold of entering public life with an open mind are being prepared to imbibe the seeds of hatred sown by politicians. Sangha Parivar and RSS leaders are entering schools and are teaching small children hatred in the name of patriotism and teachers are silently supporting them. The number of teachers and lecturers who are teaching RSS’s caste politics instead of teaching children secular values is increasing.
Many a time, lecturers are mere puppets who inevitably agree with everything politicians say fearing harassment, transfers, and other everyday struggles. The recent incident in Kokkada is an excellent example. A headmaster had to face the ire of a Sangh Parivar leader who attacked him for sending children for mid-day meals at the inauguration of a local mosque. In an audio clip that went viral, the headmaster was heard apologizing before the Sangh Parivar leader and defending the acts of Sangh Parivar. This reveals how criminals along with the education department are trying to mislead the society. We are living in a society in which teachers who have to guide and correct the rotten apples in society are in fact agreeing with them and tendering apologies. And politicians are directly responsible for this. Such criminals have now become a bridge between politicians and society.
During elections, party workers with criminal antecedents are sought to create fear, indulge in arson, and mar the peace and harmony of society. Post elections, politicians have to give in to the demand of these elements. Usually, police and teachers use these mediators as a bridge with politicians for their transfers and promotions. In the same vein, the common man fears that if they are antagonised, they would be incurring the displeasure of politicians as well.
The reason why the Ramsene leader was bribed for the vice-chancellor’s post is that he was seen or identified with several politicians. Offering bribe to obtain a lucrative posting is a criminal act. Depending on a criminal to obtain a top-post in a university is a shame on the values for which a university stands for. The incident also shows the depths to which universities have sunk. If such criminals control educational institutions, what can the country expect of students who learn at these institutions? If lecturers go after criminals and politicians, what then will be the situation of students? The arrested criminal should be investigated about how many more people he has cheated. Universities must be made free of criminal connection and politics, and the dignity of these hallow portals of education upheld.
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Russian military hardware, spare parts for Indian military to be manufactured in India
New Delhi (PTI): Russia agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of military hardware and spare parts for maintenance of Russian-origin arms and defence equipment.
Ways to bolster overall bilateral defence cooperation figured prominently during summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
It has been a long-standing grievance of armed forces that the supply of critical spares and equipment from Russia takes a long time, affecting the maintenance of military systems procured from that country.
"Both sides agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates and other products for maintenance of Russian origin arms and defence equipment under Make-in-India programme through transfer of technology," a joint statement said.
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It said both sides also agreed to set up joint ventures for meeting the needs of the Indian armed forces as well as subsequent export to mutually friendly third countries.
The joint statement said the India-Russia defence partnership is being reoriented to take up joint co-development and co-production of advanced defence technology and systems.
In their meeting on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov resolved to expand bilateral defence cooperation.
In the meeting, the Indian side showed keen interest in procurement of additional batches of S-400 missile systems from Moscow to bolster its combat prowess.
In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Three squadrons have already been delivered.
The S-400 systems played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor. India may also look at procuring the S-500 missile systems from Russia.
In the Modi-Putin talks, the two sides also agreed to continue jointly developing systems of bilateral trade settlements through the use of national currencies.
Additionally, the two sides agreed to continue their consultations on enabling the interoperability of the national payment systems, financial messaging systems, as well as central bank digital currency platforms.
Modi and Putin appreciated the ongoing intensification of the joint work on a free trade agreement on goods between India and the Eurasian Economic Union, covering sectors of mutual interest, the joint statement said.
They also directed both sides to intensify efforts in negotiations on a mutually beneficial agreement on the promotion and protection of investment, it said.
India and Russia also welcomed steps to ensure long-term supply of fertilisers to India and discussed the potential establishment of joint ventures in this area.
