Lalu Prasad

Patna, March 27: Following the footsteps of his bitter rival Lalu Prasad, chief minister Nitish Kumar politely turned down the proposal of Patna University (PU) to confer him an honorary doctorate degree at its convocation tomorrow.

Lalu, the RJD chief, had refused the same offer from the university in 2004 following uproar over the proposal to honour him. Nitish, sources said, toed his line to avoid any controversy.

The PU syndicate had decided to offer a doctorate degree to Nitish for his contribution to the development of Bihar. Senate member Nitish Tuntun first proposed to honour the chief minister at the annual senate meeting of PU on February 22, citing that the entire country had accepted Nitish as Vikash Purush (Progress Man).

PU vice-chancellor Sudipto Adhikari told The Telegraph: “The university had approached the chief minister with the request that PU wants to confer a doctorate on him but he turned down the offer.”

Lalu Prasad

Adhikari said several universities of Bihar had approached Nitish before PU for conferring upon him the doctorate degree but he had turn down the offer.

“I have learnt from state human resource development (HRD) minister P.K. Shahi that the chief minister has a busy schedule on Monday. He has to be present in the Assembly because some important bills will be passed,” said Adhikari.

The university sources said the chief minister refused to accept the doctorate degree of PU because it could spark controversy. Lalu also refused the same offer following a row.

A teacher of Patna University said: “In 2004, Lalu refused to accept the doctorate degree as differences cropped up among the syndicate’s senior teachers and deans over the proposal.”

Some RJD leaders and the party’s students’ wing had protested against syndicate members who had objected to conferring doctorate degree on Lalu.

Despite the chief minister’s refusal to accept the PU honour, preparations for the varsity convocation after a gap of two years are in the last lap. Around 1,700 PU scholars will get their degrees tomorrow at SK Memorial Hall.

Former governor of Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant General (retired) S.K. Sinha would be the chief guest. Governor and chancellor of universities in Bihar Devanand Konwar will preside over the function.