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Starting With JNU, Govt Says All Varsities Should Fly National Flag

Starting With JNU, Govt Says All Varsities Should Fly National Flag
NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 7: The largest National Flag measuring 60 ft X 90ft flutters atop 207 ft tall flag pole at Rajiv Chowk on March 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. The concept of monumental flagpoles was conceived and introduced by the founder of the Flag Foundation, Naveen Jindal in 2009. The first monumental flagpole measuring 207 feet was installed at Kaithal in Haryana. Ever since, the foundation has installed flagpoles at 12 such places in the country. (Photo by Ramesh Pathania/Mint via Getty Images)
Mint via Getty Images
NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 7: The largest National Flag measuring 60 ft X 90ft flutters atop 207 ft tall flag pole at Rajiv Chowk on March 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. The concept of monumental flagpoles was conceived and introduced by the founder of the Flag Foundation, Naveen Jindal in 2009. The first monumental flagpole measuring 207 feet was installed at Kaithal in Haryana. Ever since, the foundation has installed flagpoles at 12 such places in the country. (Photo by Ramesh Pathania/Mint via Getty Images)

In an attempt to evoke students' patriotic spirit, the BJP-led government has made it mandatory for each central university in the country to fly an Indian flag on a 207-feet high mast.

The decision was unanimously supported at a meeting called by Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Smriti Irani on 18 February in which vice-chancellors of 46 central universities participated. According to reports, the government claimed that the proposal came from the vice-chancellors.

“All central universities to fly national flag on a 207-feet high mast on their campuses to signify ‘strong and united’ India,” the HRD Ministry said in a statement.

Sources in an NDTV report also claimed that the HRD minister asked why there shouldn’t be a flag decorating campuses, similar to the giant flag situated at the the heart of Connaught Place in the national capital.

“To encourage love for your country, you should hoist the national flag,” said Hairsh Chandra Singh Rathore, the vice chancellor of South Bihar university.

The first flag will be hoisted at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, which is currently simmering with following the arrest of a its students' union president, Kanhaiya Kumar for alleged anti-India sloganeering in favour of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

The matter escalated after Kumar, several journalists and students were assaulted by lawyers within the premises of the Patiala House Court as Kumar was produced. A BJP MLA, O.P. Sharma, was caught on camera attacking a CPI member outside the court premises, adding fuel to the fire.

The meeting was called to address equity on campuses, following a national uproar over alleged bigotry on campus was triggered by the suicide of a Dalit student in Hyderabad last month. According to reports, support systems for socially and economically disadvantaged students were also discussed, as well as professional counselling to address stress and depression amidst students.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.