Mysuru: Govt cancels RSS-linked conference at KSOU citing protocol violation
Mysuru: The Karnataka government has cancelled a three-day academic conference on Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophy that was scheduled to be held at Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) from March 25 to 27, citing violation of rules and protocol.
According to The Indian Express, the event, titled “Ekatma Manava Darshan- Bharat’s Worldview,” was to be organised in association with Prajna Pravah and the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, organisations reportedly linked to the RSS.
The Higher Education Department had issued a show-cause notice to KSOU Vice-Chancellor Sharanappa V Halase on March 23, seeking an explanation. Halase had said the university had merely rented out the venue and was not involved in organising the event.
However, the government rejected his explanation while ordering the cancellation. “You were informed that it was a private event and not a university event. But in the invitation letter, it is stated that KSOU was the hosting university and the logo of the university was used. Also, it shows that you are presiding over the event. There are no valid reasons to accept your justification,” it read.
In the letter to the vice-chancellor, N Kumar, Deputy Secretary (Universities), said the Governor had already constituted a single-member inquiry into alleged administrative and financial irregularities at KSOU. “The fact that permission was granted to a private organisation to hold an event at the very time this committee’s inquiry is ongoing is wholly inappropriate”.
“The purpose and subject matter of this conference are contrary to the objectives and mission of the university. Permission granted to a private organisation’s event in violation of government guidelines, rules, and protocol cannot be accepted. For the above said reasons, the Ekata Manav Darshan international conference is cancelled with immediate effect in the university premises,” the order stated.
The conference was to be inaugurated by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan scheduled to deliver a special lecture.
Defending the decision, Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar reportedly said public universities must remain apolitical. Referring to the organisers, he said it was “shocking” that the university had associated itself with what he described as an intellectual wing of the RSS. He said that the vice-chancellor’s involvement sent a “wrong message.”
Organisers, however, said preparations were already complete. Dr Punith Raj K N, a member of the organising committee, said KSOU was only a venue partner, and rent had been paid. “More than 500 delegates from across the country have already reached Mysuru. If they want to remove the KSOU logo, we are ready to do it. We are discussing with the government and are hopeful that the event will be held as per the schedule,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Opposition BJP criticised the decision, accusing the government of suppressing academic discourse.
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Powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan, tsunami alert issued
Tokyo (PTI): A powerful earthquake struck off the northern Japanese coast, and the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami alert in the region.
The quake, registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.4, occurred off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan at around 4:53 pm (0753 GMT), at a depth of about 10 kilometres (6 miles) below the sea surface, the agency said.
Japan's NHK public television said a tsunami of up to 3 metres (10 feet) could hit the area shortly.
