SAD Slams ‘Renaming’ of DU’s Dyal Singh; HRD Min Warns College

Banners reading “Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College” were reportedly used during the college’s annual day function.

Shiromani Akali Dai (SAD) leader and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal came out strongly against the purported renaming of Dyal Singh College to Vande Mataram Dayal Singh College, requesting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against college management head Amitabh Sinha as well as Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi in connection with the move.

Have requested PM @narendramodi ji to sack Dayal Singh College mgmt head Amitabh Sinha for going against HRD min. assurance that name of Dayal Singh College won’t be changed.I briefed him that Sinha’s mischievous conduct had hurt Sikh sentiments & am hopeful of corrective action.

— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) May 2, 2018

Briefed PM that Amitabh Sinha held annual function on Apr 25 &changed name of Dayal Singh College to VandeMatram DSC.I stressed college mgmt seems bent upon destroying legacy of S Dayal Singh Majithia &is being supported by DU VC Yogesh Tyagi who should also be proceeded against.

— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) May 2, 2018

Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar also asserted that the government will not allow the name of the college to be changed. On Wednesday, he said:

I want to clarify that the name of Dyal Singh College will not be changed neither will any permission be given for name change. The efforts in this direction by management committee (of the college) will invite strict action.

The statements by Javadekar and Badal come after banners reading “Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi” were reportedly used during the college's annual prize distribution function on 25 April.

The usage of the banners was also criticised by the general secretary of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjinder Singh Sirsa, as he said:

The Sikh community is shocked at the intrigues of Dyal Singh College chairman Amitabh Sinha and Delhi University VC Yogesh Tyagi, who have connived to change the college name to Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, in a statement

Sirsa pointed out that their action went against what Javadekar had said on the issue.

Last year too, Javadekar had slammed the governing body of the college for creating "unnecessary controversy", and said that the government will not permit to change the college's name to Vande Mataram Mahavidyalaya.

In the meantime, college authorities played down the whole controversy, with an official telling The Hindu that the name change as seen during the 25 April event was not an official one.

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