Will the EC act against St Xavier’s College principal now?

Nagpur, April 23: Will the Election Commission take swift action against the principal of Mumbai’s St Xavier’s College for writing a letter to his students openly denouncing BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi and his Gujarat model of development?

The EC has earlier taken similar action for those who violated the model code of conduct by making controversial statements and indulging in unwarranted criticism. The letter by the Principal of the college belonging to a religious minority tantamount to similar violation of the model code of conduct and as such warrants immediate disciplinary action by the EC.

The BJP has done a right thing in approaching the EC against the principal of St Xavier's College in Mumbia for his letter to students questioning Modi's business-friendly Gujarat model and and praises Congress-led UPA's initiatives.

The BJP maintained that Fr Frazer Mascarenhas, Principal of the college sent out the letter and also posted it on the college's website violating the model code of conduct.

The principal praises, on the other hand, the UPA II's populist schemes and says that these have been praised by Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen and academician Jean Dreze. Mascarenhas, in his letter said: "The Gujarat model has been highlighted for our consideration... Is the growth of big business, the making of huge profits, and the achievement of high production - what we seek?" the opening paragraph reads.

While the letter goes on to examine the truth of Gujarat model threadbare, it cites the tussle the institution's Gujarat branch has with the state government as an example. "To take just an example, St. Xavier's College Ahmedabad, thrice NAAC accredited with an equivalent of the A grade, has not been able to gain permission from the Gujarat Government for Academic Autonomy, for the last 10 years and has finally won a battle in the High Court to approach the UGC directly for this status," the letter reads.

"All the human development index indicators and the cultural polarisation of the population show that Gujarat has had a terrible experience in the last 10 years...Gujarat has also been the worst performer in settling claims and distributing title deeds to tribal people and other forest dwellers, as shown by the latest data put out by the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry. Till 2013, the State, with 15% tribal population, settled only 32 per cent of the claims, the lowest rate in the country," Mascarenhas writes in his letter to the students.

The principal praises, on the other hand, the UPA II's populist schemes and says that these have been praised by Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen and academician Jean Dreze.

"As opposed to this, efforts like the Rojgar Yojana and the Food Security Act have been called "election sops". However some of our best social scientists like Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze have supported these as necessary in the emergency economic situation the country and the world is facing. The country is grateful that committed activists like Aruna Roy and Shailesh Gandhi have worked with the Government to initiate and sustain the Right to Information Act which makes accountability possible," Mascarenhas says.

Almost giving a clean chit to the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government for the spate of scams that hit its decade-long rule, he writes, "Corruption still needs to be addressed effectively but since it is so prevalent at every level of society, it will take civil society long agonizing efforts to root it out."

"No magic wand or divine miracles will come to the aid of the Indian people. Their reasoned choice of individuals and political parties who promise to work for a real quality of life for all, will see India prosper or flounder on the precipice. Choose well!" the letter concludes.