Akalis out to dilute Khalsa College’s heritage: Capt
Thursday, 18/02/2016
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/akalis-out-to-dilute-khalsa-college-s-heritage-capt/197817.html
Amritsar : An unscheduled visit of PPCC president and local MP Capt Amarinder Singh to Khalsa College this afternoon led to a high drama.
On learning about the visit, the college authorities locked all main gates of the campus. Amarinder’s cavalcade managed to gain entry from another gate. The college authorities alleged that the MP’s security men slapped the college guards, snatched keys of the gate and stormed into the campus unannounced, which was unfortunate.
Though no one from the college management entertained Amarinder, students welcomed him and interacted with him. They also clicked photographs with the MP.
On the purpose of his visit, Amarinder said he was there to question the “illogical” move of Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) to set up a university in the neighbourhood of the prestigious Guru Nanak Dev University.
He warned the governing council against diluting and subverting the heritage status of the historic Khalsa College. Slamming the Badals and Majithias, he alleged that it was an attempt to usurp the Punjab’s glorious heritage.
He said if the SAD-BJP went ahead with the move of establishing a private university on the Khalsa College campus by way of an Act, the Congress would repeal it, if voted to power in 2017.
Recalling his family’s association with Khalsa College, Amarinder said while his grandfather Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and father Maharaja Yadvinder Singh were its chancellors from 1927 to 1952, he was its chancellor too between 1972 and 1978.
“Compared to that, the Majithias who now control the institution and want to usurp it have no contribution towards the setting up this great institution. Their aim is to undermine Guru Nanak Dev University by setting up their private university to mint money. The move is akin to destroying the government transport in Punjab by promoting their own transport companies,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Satyajit Singh Majithia, president, KCGC, said the historic college would remain an autonomous institution. “Some leaders are playing politics over the vital issue, which is unfortunate. In the heart of it, they also understand how important the project is, but seem to be misled by certain elements for political reasons,’’ he said.
He said the heritage status of the building would also remain intact. KCGC honorary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina alleged that Amarinder came to the college uninformed and without an authorisation.
