Free expression in varsities under threat: Manmohan Singh

Kolkata

Criticizing the Modi Government, former PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh said that free expression in varsities under threat.

“Recent attempts to interfere with free expressionof the student community at Hyderabad Central University and Jawaharlal NehruUniversity are of particular concern. Attempts to suppress peaceful dissent arenot only inimical to learning but also undemocratic," said Mr Singh, whilespeaking at the bicentenary celebrations of Presidency University.

Meanwhile, President Pranab Mukherjee pointed outthat Indian universities should focus on the need for promoting innovation and research.

“Indian universities need to create an ambiencewhich would help produce more Nobel laureates,” said President Mukherjee while addressingthe bicentennial celebrations of Presidency University.

The President pointed out that after 1930 no Indianscholar working in Indian universities after C V Raman got Nobel Prize inoriginal research work.