Condemning the government’s decision to accord ‘Institution of Eminence’ status to the Reliance Foundation’s Jio Institute, the Left parties called it ‘brazen cronyism.’
The CPI(M) Polit Bureau, in a statement, said the entire exercise and the considerations had remained largely outside the public domain. “It takes great perseverance and creativity to earn that tag of eminence. It is bewildering that the Jio Institute, which is non-existent and notional, has been given that status solely on a ‘drawing board’ projection,” the Polit Bureau statement said.
It cannot be construed as anything but “brazen cronyism,” said the CPI(M). “It will have a debilitating effect on the entire sphere of higher education underlining the obsession of the government to promote privatisation and undermining public funded higher education,” the party said.
Communist Party of India leader D. Raja said the move would virtually hand over the higher education to the corporate sector. “It is strange that the institution is yet to start functioning and it is a shameless attempt at crony capitalism. The HRD Ministry is making all kinds of announcements like abolishing the University Grants Commission without talking to State governments. The Modi government is centralising all powers in its hands. We not just oppose we strongly condemn it,” he said.
Congress’ stance
Asked to comment on the controversy regarding Jio University, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi refused to directly name ‘any institution, individual or company’ but articulated the stand of the party.
“Any institution which is seeking such status must establish its credentials by various acknowledged and established tests. What are those tests? Adequate infrastructure, outstanding faculty, credible research output, a place of prestige in the academia,” Mr. Singhvi said.