The Congress on Wednesday criticised the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government over its decision to drop former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name from Rajiv Gandhi Technology
University following its proposed reorganisation, terming the move a reflection of the government’s “petty mentality”. As per PTI, the state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, approved the proposal on Tuesday to reorganise Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (RGPV) into three separate institutions. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, in a post on X, alleged that the BJP had no new initiatives and was instead focused on renaming projects and institutions established during the Congress regime. “Removing Rajiv Gandhi’s name is a symbol of the BJP government’s petty mentality,” Nath said, highlighting Gandhi’s role in India’s technological transformation. He said the former prime minister helped usher in the information revolution and the era of computers in the country. RGPV To Be Divided Into Three Universities As per the cabinet’s decision, the existing RGPV campus in Bhopal will be renamed the Madhya Bharat University of Technology and Skills. Two new institutions — Mahakaushal University of Technology and Skills in Jabalpur and Malwa University of Technology and Skills in Ujjain — will also be established. Calling the Madhya Pradesh government “anti-education”, Nath appealed to Chief Minister Yadav to reconsider the decision to remove Rajiv Gandhi’s name. Nath also warned that political decisions would eventually be subject to public scrutiny. “You cannot change history by changing names,” he said, adding that every action, whether good or bad, would be accounted for. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar alleged that removing the names of leaders who sacrificed their lives for the country was part of a larger conspiracy involving the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP. He said the BJP government could not erase Rajiv Gandhi’s place in the hearts of people by removing his name from the university. Congress leader Ajay Singh also criticised the move, alleging that it was driven by political hostility. He said changing the university’s name would not diminish Rajiv Gandhi’s contribution to the country’s history. Singh alleged that the university was being trifurcated primarily to facilitate the removal of the former prime minister’s name. Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) welcomed the cabinet’s decision in Bhopal and celebrated on the university campus by distributing sweets. (With PTI Inputs)
