Draft UGC guidelines under review: Kerala Governor promises consideration of all views

Downplaying the Kerala government's criticism and opposition to the draft UGC guidelines, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday said that everyone's views will be considered before a final version is released. Arlekar also said that India being a democracy, "everybody has the right to say anything over anything in this country and there was nothing wrong with it".

Kerala Assembly Resolution Against UGC Guidelines

The Kerala assembly had on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the central government to withdraw the draft UGC guidelines and issue a revised version. Arlekar said that all the views about the UGC draft guidelines should go to the proper person or proper platform" and they will discuss it. "It is still a draft, not the final version. So, considering everybody's different views, they will come out with the final document," the Governor told reporters here after he called on former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan at his residence.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: On Kerala govt passing resolution in the assembly requesting the central government to withdraw the UGC draft norms, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar says, " Being a democracy everybody has the right to say anything, all those views should… pic.twitter.com/xC9PEbWOWv

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2025

Meeting with Former Chief Minister

Arlekar inquired Achuthanandan's family members about his health. He said that he heard about the veteran CPI(M) leader since his college days and that Achuthanandan was an ideal person in public life. "As I happen to be the Governor here, I thought I must meet him and his family. It was very fortunate that we all met. Due to his ill health he could not speak," he said.

Cordial Meeting with Chief Minister

Arlekar said that he always wanted to meet Achuthanandan and prayed for his good health. The Governor also said that his meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his wife was a "very cordial" one. "I was very happy that both of them had come there. We had a good exchange of views and we exchanged pleasantries," he said. Vijayan along with his wife had called on the Governor at Kerala Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.

(Except for the headline, nothing has been changed by All India News Network in the PTI copy.)