PM Modi is visiting Aligarh to lay foundation of proposed university named after Jat King Mahendra Pratap Singh on September 14.
By The Newster
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Aligarh to lay foundation of proposed university named after Jat King Mahendra Pratap Singh on September 14.
The visit to western Uttar Pradesh by PM Modi is also crucial ahead of Uttar Pradesh Election where the Bhartiya Janta Party is facing massive protest against the three farm laws, low sugarcane prices and other agriculture related issues.
BJP is also trying to pacify the Jat community which is dominant in the area by establishing a university after the Jat king.
In 2019, as part of election campaign, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced that the state government would honour Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh by establishing a university after his name.
Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh is also credited for donating land to the Aligarh Muslim University. At that time, CM Yogi had said that “Even though the Jat king donated land for AMU, his name was never engraved on its walls”.
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PM Modi Attempts to Pacify Jats
The foundation of state university is taking place at the very crucial juncture as tussle between the Jat community in western Uttar Pradesh and BJP government is at its peak. Earlier, on September 5, a massive protest consisting lakhs of farmers, mainly from western UP gathered to protest against the BJP government in the state and at the centre.
The students of Aligarh Muslim University have also stood side by side with the protesting farmers and demanded the three farm laws be repealed.
Raja Mahendra Pratap’s grandson Charat Pratap Singh, who earlier had sent legal notice to AMU over land lease given by the king to the varsity, has expressed pleasure at the decision of establishing University.
Charat in his statement to The Print said, “We are happy with the decision taken by the government, I would say ‘Der aaye durust aaye’ (better late than never). The family is very happy and we welcome the decision. This is a historical step… Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has played an important role in this new university. I personally congratulated him after this decision. He recognised the contribution of Raja Mahendra Pratap in the field of education.”
AMU spokesperson Omar Peerzada also welcomed the move and said, ““As of now I have no information regarding this land issue but we welcome the decision of the government of naming a state university after Raja Mahendra Pratap. It’s a moment of pride for us also as he was our alumnus”, as reported by the Print.
Peerzada was also reported saying, “He had made immense contributions in the field of education. He was a freedom fighter. His family was very close to founding members of AMU. We feel proud of his accomplishment. We have one section on him in our library, we always feel proud of it.”
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