<p>The BJP on Saturday dubbed the government’s decision to shut down public varsities ‘University Closure Bhagya’, in a tongue-in-cheek jibe at the Congress’ flagship guarantees.</p><p>Lashing out at plans to shut down varsities that were established during BJP’s tenure, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly R Ashoka said, “This government will not close down bars, but universities.”</p><p>He warned the government that its decision would drive students to pursue higher education in other states. “The Congress government has already stopped the implementation of ‘Kisan Samman’ and ‘Vidyanidhi’ schemes, and it’s now eyeing universities. This is part of Congress’ strategy to prevent the youth from graduating, so that they can stop ‘Yuva Nidhi’ scheme,” said Ashoka.</p>.JD(S) plans massive convention in May .<p>Questioning CM Siddaramaiah on the issue, Ashoka asked, “When the CM presented a Rs 4 lakh crore budget, was not an allocation of Rs 342 crore made towards development of universities?”</p><p>Former minister for higher education Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said instead of taking steps to strengthen universities and education sector, the Congress was planning to shut down varsities. “When BJP established new varsities, we did not create new posts but instead offered the option of shuffling officers to new varsities,” he said, adding that new institutions were established after consultation with stakeholders and experts.</p><p>He said even financial considerations, such as seeking funds from the Centre, had been factored into the BJP government’s decision. Ashwath Narayan called upon the Congress to present a white paper on the issue.</p><p>Warning the government of massive protests if it went ahead with its plan to close universities, Narayan said the Congress must not take such a step just because they were established by BJP.</p>
<p>The BJP on Saturday dubbed the government’s decision to shut down public varsities ‘University Closure Bhagya’, in a tongue-in-cheek jibe at the Congress’ flagship guarantees.</p><p>Lashing out at plans to shut down varsities that were established during BJP’s tenure, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly R Ashoka said, “This government will not close down bars, but universities.”</p><p>He warned the government that its decision would drive students to pursue higher education in other states. “The Congress government has already stopped the implementation of ‘Kisan Samman’ and ‘Vidyanidhi’ schemes, and it’s now eyeing universities. This is part of Congress’ strategy to prevent the youth from graduating, so that they can stop ‘Yuva Nidhi’ scheme,” said Ashoka.</p>.JD(S) plans massive convention in May .<p>Questioning CM Siddaramaiah on the issue, Ashoka asked, “When the CM presented a Rs 4 lakh crore budget, was not an allocation of Rs 342 crore made towards development of universities?”</p><p>Former minister for higher education Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said instead of taking steps to strengthen universities and education sector, the Congress was planning to shut down varsities. “When BJP established new varsities, we did not create new posts but instead offered the option of shuffling officers to new varsities,” he said, adding that new institutions were established after consultation with stakeholders and experts.</p><p>He said even financial considerations, such as seeking funds from the Centre, had been factored into the BJP government’s decision. Ashwath Narayan called upon the Congress to present a white paper on the issue.</p><p>Warning the government of massive protests if it went ahead with its plan to close universities, Narayan said the Congress must not take such a step just because they were established by BJP.</p>
