Decision to rename Delhi’s Dyal Singh (evening) College put on hold: Javadekar

Dyal Singh (evening) College was converted into a morning college in July this year and renamed Vande Mataram Mahavidyalaya in November

HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said on Tuesday that the decision to change the name of Dyal Singh (evening) College in Delhi University was not the government’s decision and has been put on hold.

Union minister for human resource development Prakash Javadekar. Reacting to the renaming of Dyal Singh (evening) College, he said on Tuesday that creating unnecessary controversies by playing with emotions is wrong. (Mohd Zakir/HT Photo)

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, SAD member Naresh Gujral said that “unfortunately”, the managing committee of the Dyal Singh College recently decided to rename the evening college of the institution as Vande Mataram Mahavidyalaya.

He said he admitted that the words Vande Mataram evoked patriotic fervour in every Indian and the government should set up Vande Mataram universities all over the country.

“But to change the name of a minority institution is a direct assault on the feelings of Sikhs...I feel this is something to be condemned,” the SAD leader said and demanded that managing committee should be replaced immediately.

Responding to this, Javadekar said the renaming was not the decision of the central government.

“Creating unnecessary controversies by playing with emotions is wrong,” he added.

Gujral said philanthropist Dyal Singh Majithia had given his entire savings and life to the cause of education and set up several colleges and schools. There is a Dyal Singh College in Lahore also, he said.