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Politicians virtually make  ancient Vikramshila University a game for politics !

Upendra Kushwaha, union minister of state for human resource development till recently lambasted Bihar government for not responding the central government’s request for a piece of land for the proposed central varsity in the name of famous Vikramshila Budda Mahavihara, the ancient seat of learning in the world once constructed by King Dharmapala of Pal dynasty in 7-8 th century BC.

But in this changing scenario, when Nitish Kumar’s government in Bihar has become a part of center’s NDA team, Kushwaha apparently was ignorant about the recent progress in the question of the alleged apathy of the state government for acquiring lands for the proposed varsity.

However, the HRD minister expressed his serious concerned over the delay by the state government for acquiring appropriate lands for the proposed central varsity here. But he assured that in the next week he personally call on Nitish Kumar to discuss the matter.

Kushwaha who recently toured Bhagalpur, said the process for completing the land related formalities for the proposed central  varsity would be speeded up soon the central ministry of HRD would receive the proposal of lands from the state government. “Briefly a team from HRD will come here from Delhi to inspect the land and then green signal would be provided,” he said.

In a reply to the question of what makes the state government delay when Nitsh led government in Bihar now became a part of NDA, the HRD minister had no commnet, said he didn’t have any idea about it. He said that the union HRD minister in May last had reminded the state government for sending the proposal of at least three plots. But when he was told that in July last, Bhagalpur district administration had already sent the proposal of three pieces of lands for the varsity to the state headquarters, the minister again expressed his ignorance about it. “Local administration might be sent the proposal but unless and until it reaches before union HRD ministry, the process for the proposed varsity could not be started,” he clarified.

It is to be mentioned here that earlier in April the local administration sent proposal with one piece of land which was rejected and instruction was given for sending at least three separate sites of lands for the proposed central varsities.

The central government earlier sanctioned Rs 500 crores for the central varsity here in the name of Vikramshila Buddha Mahavihara, the ancient world University on 2015. The site for the proposed varsity would be somewhere near the half-excavated ruins of the ancient seat of learning at Kahalgaon, some 51 km east from Bhagalpur district headquarters.

Devotes from abroad have started arriving Vikramshila .

However, the fate of the proposed varsity still hands into balance mainly due to the indifferent attitude of the state government, as alleged by the people of Bhagalpur.  N K Jaishwal, convener of Vikramshila Nagrik Manch, a Kahalgaon based voluntary organization fighting for the causes of Vikramshila has alleged Nitish for his indifferent attitude towards Vikramshila causing much delay in land acquisition process. “District administration already sent the proposal of three pieces of lands as directed by the central HRD ministry but even after passing four months, the state government yet not sent the report to union HDR ministry,” he alleged. The voluntary organization which have started agitational programmes like 24 hours mass hunger strike recently, will intensify movements if the land acquisition procedure would not be completed, Jaishwal said.

He alleged the state government’s indifferent attitude which still block the opportunity to tag Vikramshila in Buddha circuit and also in World Heritage center of UNIESCO. “If Bodh Gaya or Nalanda could be upgraded as Buddhist tourist destinations than why not Vikramshila? The state government never paid any attention for it because Nitish Kumar never wants to do anything for Vikramshila,” alleged Dilip Mishra, spokesperson of BJP.

However, the HRD minister repeatedly echoed the stand of the Modi government on the central varsity here. “Now we have the privilege to create pressure on Bihar government as it’s now a part of NDA. I will tentatively  meet the chief minister in next week and discuss the issue along with other issues with him,” he told.

“Let’s see how the center now could apply pressure on Bihar government for the land acquisition for the proposed central varsity,” was the common perception here among the residents.