MK Stalin says, Make chief ministers chancellors so that universities can thrive

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and chief minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, has stated that in order for universities to thrive, chancellors should only be chief ministers.

 

Speaking at the Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University convocation, Stalin expressed gratitude to previous Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa for designating the state’s chief minister as the university’s chancellor.

 

‘This university functions under the complete funding of the state government. The specialty is the only for this university, a ruling Chief Minister is the chancellor of the university. I’m not trying to speak politics but only reality. Only when chief ministers are chancellors, can universities flourish. Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had known that had anyone else was the chancellor to this University, the essence would have been lost. I appreciate her for that,’ said Stalin.

 

He then gave the esteemed singers PM Sundaram and P Susheela their honorary doctorates. Stalin hinted subtly that Governor RN Ravi had denied liberation fighter and CPI (M) leader P Sankaraiah an honorary doctorate, saying that the two music legends’ doctorates were only granted because he was the university’s chancellor.

 

‘As the chief minister, who was elected by the people, being the chancellor of the university, I can take decisions reflecting the wish of the people. Hence, we ask that the chief minister should be the chancellor of all universities. For this, we passed bills in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. I don’t want to get into any controversy. The Supreme Court is hearing a case on the matter and we are awaiting good news,’ said Stalin, who also said that the judges had expressed their views on putting forward the rights of the states.

‘Education should be moved to the state list from the concurrent list. Only then can education for everyone be achieved. I’m not speaking for Tamil Nadu, but for all states in India, as education is only a person’s honest property and everyone should receive it. This is the policy of Dravidian Mode,’ he said.