Thu Jan 02 15:35:02 UTC 2025: ## Congress Condemns Naming of New College After Savarkar, Demands it be Named After Manmohan Singh
**NEW DELHI** – The upcoming inauguration of Veer Savarkar College has sparked a major political row, with the Congress party vehemently opposing the decision and demanding the college be named after the late former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh instead.
The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress, has launched a protest campaign, writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to request the renaming of the college. They also urged the establishment of a world-class Delhi University college and a central university both named after Dr. Singh, along with the inclusion of his life story in academic curricula. The NSUI lauded Dr. Singh’s legacy as a scholar, economist, and public servant.
Congress leaders criticized the choice of Savarkar, arguing that numerous other freedom fighters deserve recognition. They questioned Savarkar’s status as a freedom fighter, highlighting the many who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence. Congress MP Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain stated that naming the college after Savarkar, who he claims supported the British Raj, amounts to legitimizing those who aided colonial rule.
The BJP countered these accusations, accusing the Congress of hypocrisy regarding its respect for Dr. Singh. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari pointed to the NDA government’s allocation of land for Dr. Singh’s memorial and Prime Minister Modi’s attendance at his funeral, while questioning the absence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the state-of-the-art Veer Savarkar College tomorrow, which will include facilities in Roshanpura, Najafgarh, East Delhi, and Dwarka. The controversy promises to remain a significant point of contention in the coming days.
First Piper 