Sacked Mumbai University VC a victim of Modi’s Digital India, says Shiv Sena

Deshmukh is the first VC to be sacked in the history of the 164-year-old varsity.

The Shiv Sena on Thursday called former Mumbai University vice-chancellor (VC) Sanjay Deshmukh a victim of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘Digital India’ project, in its mouthpiece Saamana.

In its editorial, Saamana said Deshmukh’s insistence on online assessment of answer sheets was his undoing. (Picture for representation)

Deshmukh was sacked by Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Wednesday, who held him responsible for the varsity’s delay in assessment of answer sheets and declaration of examination results.

In its editorial, Saamana said Deshmukh’s insistence on online assessment of answer sheets was his undoing. “Deshmukh tried to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of Digital India and became its victim,” the editorial said.

Deshmukh is the first VC to be sacked in the history of the 164-year-old varsity. Deshmukh has been held responsible for risking the careers of thousands of students, owing to the delay in declaring results, thus depriving them of the opportunity to apply for higher studies.

Taking potshots at its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the editorial said, “There is nothing wrong in appointing people who subscribe to your ideology. However, merit and experience matter. When that’s ignored, we see the collapse of various institutions such as the Mumbai University.”

“Students, teachers and parents have never faced such mental agony in the last 164 years at the University,” it added.