The Ministry of Human Resource Development on Thursday announced its decision to hoist the tricolour in every university campus, the first of which will obviously fly in Jawaharlal Nehru University campus amidst the alleged “anti-national”sloganeering.
The decision was taken in a meeting that was called by HRD Minister Smriti Irani between the MHRD and the vice chancellors of all the central unversities of India.
According to media reports, the flags will have to weigh 125 kg and be hoisted on a 207 feet long mast. This is make it larger than the current largest Indian flag in the country
This announcement comes as a massive crowd of students and teachers from various universities in Delhi marched on Thursday to protest against the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of sedition.
The decision by the BJP-led government is an attempt to evoke nationalistic sentiments among campuses. Many of the institutions have been hit by anti-establishment sentiments, following Kanhaiya’s arrest without legitimate evidence and the assaults launched upon on journalists and students by lawyers in the Patiala House Court.
National Conference leader, Omar Abdullah has voiced criticism over this forceful mandate to enforce a feeling of inclusion under the banner of a flag without actually addressing the grievances of Indian citizens.
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