Report of resignation from Nalanda a rumour: Amartya

 Renowned economist Amartya Sen today dismissed as mere rumour the media report that he was contemplating to resign from the post of chancellor of Nalanda University.

"There is an entire gossip. I never intend to resign, nor I am going to resign. It is a complete contruction (planted story). Why should I resign?" Sen wondered.

Sen, however, conceded that he was having some issues with the government on whether the Nalanda University would follow rules applicable to an international university or a central university.

The Nobel laureate said he preferred the university to come up as an international university because bringing the university under central rules would be a betrayal of its international partners and Indian Parliament.

"It would be a complete betrayal of Asian collegues, betrayal of Indian Parliament and Indian people as we are building up an international university," Sen pointed out.
"The debate is not about how the Nalanda University has been run now. The debate is, and the government has to accept it, that it is an international university. We are very keen on financial accounting even by the CAG, but the rules have to be that of an international university where professors and students may come from China, Thailand, Singapore," Sen said.

"So to say that the university has to follow the rules of a central university is ridiculous. It is also ridiculous considering that India had said (earlier) it would be an international university in Parliament and it is also in the Nalanda Act," he said.

Sen pointed out that India had invited international efforts and nine countries had signed up on that and five countries had committed money.

"So now to say that give us the money and Nalanda will be a central university will be ridiculous. I am arguing that it should not happen," Sen said.

Without taking name Sen said that an officer from the Union Finance Ministry had suggested that Nalanda University should be treated as a central university.