Central University becomes tug of war between BJP and Congress

Dharamshala, May 26, 2017: Setting up of the Central University in Kangra District is a long battle, which is on for more than last eight years, and the institution is still running in a state governments degree college building in Shahpur near here. The high rank national educational institution is yet to find its own land, buildings etc…all is the matter of politics between Congress and BJP. Congress say that the university was allotted around 10 years back by the then Congress government for Dharamshala. The last Dhumal led BJP government divided it into two campuses, on ground of non-availability of land in Dharamshala, and its major area was allocated to Dehra in Hamirpur Parliamentary constituency. Vir Bhadra Singh led present Congress government of the state calls it a plan to give benefit to BJP MP of Hamirpur, Anurag Thakur who is the son of ex-CM PK Dhumal.
A big land area was allocated by previous BJP state government in Dehra and the present government first allocated land at Indru Nag in Dharamshala for CU, which was declared unsafe by Modi led Central government and later the present government gave land near Jatrangal in Dharamshala. This was later cleared by HRD Ministry earlier this year. Only the formalities to get forest clearance were there.
In the mean time ex-CM and top leader, BJP MP Shanta Kumar said recently, “The central government has cleared that the main campus of the CU shall be set up in Jadrangal (Dharamshala) and the rest in Dehra and we must agree to it. The formalities to transfer the land was still awaited on the HP Government side, if they do not made it in time we will do it after December, when BJP led government shall assume office in HP.”
On the Other hand the UD Minister of HP, who is also the MLA of Dharamshala Mr.Sudhir said recently, “The earlier recommended site in Dharamshala (Indru Nag) has not been rejected by site selection committee, as being claimed by the state BJP leaders, The Indru Nag site is under observation review. Besides, a fresh proposal has been sent to ministry of Human Resource Development wherein 4 to 5 sites, which include Narwana, Jadrangal and others in and around Dharamshala have been recommended.”
The minister add, “I am not against Dehra , a few colleges of the Central University can be established there too. When a project is being awarded to a state by the center, it is the prerogative of the concerned state to select the site and area for its setup, and that is exactly what the Himachal government is doing.”
More than 160 hectare of land was available in Dharamshala as against only 81 hectares in Dehra, claimed the minister adding that land in some localities of Dharamshala did require some clearances before it is transferred to CU and as soon that is done, the foundation stone would laid. HP Cabinet too categorically decided to set up the new Central University at Dharamshala.
HRD Minister Parkash Jawedker said today at Institute of advance studies in Shimla today that the state government is not serious about the sitting up of CU as the much needed formalities are not being done by HP Government. Minister said that even the required money to get environment clearance was not being deposited so far. Minister said that the central nod has already given for both Dehra and Dharamshala campuses , if present HP government did not work on the formalities BJP will do it as soon as comes to power in HP.
On the other hand, BJP MPAnuraag Thakur while addressing a group of students in Shahpur today said that only administrative block of the CU will be raised in Dharamshala and rest in Dehra, He said that the classes shall be conducted in Dehra as soon as BJP assume office in HP.
The Central University of Himachal Pradesh at the moment is operating from the Temporary Academic Block which is established at Shahpur, near Dharamshala. This university had been allotted to Kangra district but could not find its place so far and is being run from Shahpur for temporary classes although enough space was approved by Congress and BJP governments in Dharamshala and in Dehra. The university was founded in 2009 as a result of the government's policy to establish Central Universities in each of the states that do not already have a central university.