Why is the government hesitating to inaugurate the completed ‘Mahatma Gandhi Institute’?
Harboring political animosity towards Gandhiji’s name and ideals is a sign of a parochial mindset.
The Sunday Mail
Jaipur: Rajasthan’s former Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, launched a scathing attack on the working style of the state’s current BJP government, stating that a peculiar ‘Doctrine of Delay’ (*Intezar Shastra*) has been in operation in the state since December 2023. Raising serious questions regarding the government’s intentions, Mr. Gehlot asserted that the momentum of public-welfare projects initiated by the previous Congress government has been deliberately stalled; this is not only driving up costs but also depriving the public of their rightful entitlements.
Why a ‘Political Lock’ on a World-Class Institution?
Citing the example of the ‘Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance and Social Sciences’—located on JLN Marg in Jaipur—Mr. Gehlot noted that the institution’s magnificent building was completed as early as 2024, yet the government continues to evade making it functional. Today, releasing a video of the institute on his social media platform, he posed a direct question to the government:
“Are you hesitating to inaugurate this excellent institution simply because it bears the name of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi?”
A Vision Left in Limbo
Mr. Gehlot explained that the foundation for this institute was laid in October 2022, with a budget of approximately ₹233 crore, modeled after the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and Pune’s MIT. Its sole objective was to provide the state’s youth with world-class training and research facilities in the fields of Governance and Social Sciences. A formal Act was duly passed to grant it the status of an autonomous institution, thereby enabling it to transcend politics and establish new benchmarks in education. Petty Politics vs. the Future of Youth
Issuing a warning to the government, the former Chief Minister stated that institutions are established not for the benefit of any single political party, but for the bright future of generations to come. He remarked, “Harboring political malice against Gandhiji’s name and ideals is not only a manifestation of a narrow mindset but also an injustice to the thousands of young people who dream of securing admission to this institution.” Gehlot has emphatically demanded that the government rise above petty politics and ensure the immediate operationalization of this institution. He warned that if these public-interest projects are stalled due to political animosity, the people of the state will undoubtedly deliver a fitting response to this negative approach when the time is right.
