Vikramshila Nagrik Samity has urged MPs and MLAs from Anga Pradesh to resign over the Nitish Kumar government’s alleged apathy towards Vikramshila University during the state’s centenary celebrations.

The Kahalgaon-based pressure group fights for the causes of Vikramshila University.

Its members said the name of the ancient site of learning, Vikramshila University, which was a contemporary of Nalanda University, has found no mention anywhere during the Bihar Divas celebrations. A large number of people, comprising intellectuals, social workers and public representatives, criticised the state government for ignoring the ancient world university during the centenary celebrations in the state capital.

The group on Wednesday convened an emergency meeting at the residence of activist Srinivash Sinha at Rampur village under Kahalgaon sub-division. The meeting, presided over by Rajnarayan Sinha, another activist, resolved to condemn the “shameful attitude” of the state government towards the ancient world university.

N.K. Jaiswal, the convener of Vikramshila Nagrik Samity, told The Telegraph that Vikramshila was not only missing from the venue of the celebrations in Patna but the ancient institute did not even find a mention in the state anthem.

“The state public relations department, which has published several hoardings and issued advertisements, did not even bother to mention Vikramshila anywhere,” he said.

“Even the people’s representatives should feel insulted in the manner the university has been ignored. We appealed to them to raise their voice against the attitude of the government,” he added.

The convener added that the organisation was planning to stage a four-hour dharna at Kahalgaon railway station on March 25, where the people’s representatives would be invited.

Former Speaker of the Assembly and Congress MLA from Kahalgaon Sadanand Singh condemned the state government for “ignoring” Vikramshila University during the centenary celebration of the statehood.

“The Vikramshila Nagrik Samity has not contacted me, but I am serious about the issue,” he said.

Aman Kumar Paswan, the BJP MLA from Pirpainty, echoed Singh’s but did not clear his stand on mass resignation.

Pawan Kumar Choudhary, an expert in Vikramshila affairs, also alleged that the state government has ignored the university.