Row erupts over Proposed Name change of Rudrapur Medical College
Rudrapur: In the latest development, a debate has emerged over the proposal of renaming the Pandit Ram Sumer Shukla Government Medical College. The local Zila panchayat had proposed to change the name of the medical college after Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of India.
In pursuance, the Zila Panchayat had passed a resolution regarding the same on Tuesday. However, Rajesh Shukla, a lawmaker belonging to the Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, had called the proposal to be politically motivated and had vehemently opposed the same.
The College had started its journey in 2004 and in 2006 it had been named after Pandit Ram Sumer Shukla, a freedom fighter. MLA Rajesh Shukla happens to be the son of Pandit Shukla.
As per the latest media report by the Hindustan Times, Suresh Gangwar, a nominated representative of the Panchayati raj minister in the Zila panchayat has informed the daily about the installation of Pandit Ram Sumer Shukla's statue at the main intersection of Rudrapur close to the medical college. Questioning the opposition over the proposal to change the name, he said, "What is the point of naming the medical college after him."
HT adds that MLA Shukla, who happens to be an ex-officio member of the panchayat hadn't been invited to the meeting where the proposal had taken place. He allegedly rushed to the Panchayat after learning about the proposal and had protested against the same. HT reports that he had a heated exchange of words with Gangwar, the husband of Zila panchayat chairperson, Renu Gangwar.
While commenting on the matter, Shukla told Hindustan Times, "It is a political conspiracy, and I will move a privilege motion in the assembly against Apar Mukhya Adhikari of the zila panchayat for not inviting me. The name change is not a good practice."
Calling the proposal of changing the name as an insult upon the Freedom fighters, he further stated, "It is the privilege of the state government to decide the name of any institution. The zila panchayat cannot pass such a proposal. Such an act is an insult to our freedom fighters."
"I respect Sardar Patel but the proposal to change its name is politically motivated," added Shukla while expressing his views on the matter.
