Straight talk: Nitish Kumar

Patna, March 17: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today categorically stated that the Central University would come up in Motihari and nowhere else.

Coming down heavily on Janak Pandey, the present vice-chancellor of Central University of Bihar for relocating the university to Patna from Motihari, Nitish said: “Many people are trying to relocate the university from Motihari but they will never succeed in their effort.”

Speaking at the foundation day of Aryabhatta Knowledge University, a dream project of the chief minister, he said people should understand that setting up the Central University in Motihari was related to the historical importance of the place.

Verbally attacking Pandey, who was sitting in the front row, Nitish said: “Pandeyji aap bhul jaae ki Central University kabhi Patna mein banega (Mr Pandey, do not think that the Central University will come up in Patna).”

“Motihari (Champaran) stands to be deeply associated with Gandhiji as he started his non-violent movement from this place,” the chief minister said.

After returning from South Africa, Gandhiji launched his first non-violence agitation (satyagraha) against the British Empire in 1918.

Farmers in Champaran were forced to grow indigo instead of food crop. The non-profitable crop reduced the fertility of the soil.

Sources said some people are opposing the setting up of the Central University in Motihari because the place was not developed.

Nitish said: “The university should initiate steps to set up the premier institute at Motihari. Officials should not bother if the faculty would go to a place like Motihari, which is not yet developed.”

The chief minister added: “The people of Motihari had willingly agreed to give land and I have promised them that whenever the university comes up, it will be in Motihari.”

During his visit to New Delhi, Nitish sought intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in setting up the Central University in Motihari, the district headquarters of East Champaran.

The university sources said despite the state government’s willingness to give more than 800 acres in Motihari for the university, the Union government is silent over the project because the East Champaran district headquarters does not fulfil the criteria for setting up a fully residential university.