Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday (July 13) hit out on the Centre over scientists at prime research establishments having not acquired funds for this monetary yr, alleging that the Modi government is “hell-bent” on killing scientific research in the nation.
His assault came visiting a media report which claimed that scientists at prime research establishments who must have acquired funds from central businesses for this monetary yr in April had been nonetheless ready.
“Modi Govt is hell-bent to kill scientific research in the country, thus hampering a nation’s progress,” Mr. Kharge stated in a tweet.
Scientists at prime research establishments are but to obtain funds for this monetary yr and are compelled to make use of their hard-earned financial savings to proceed research, he stated.
“At a time when government has promised more funding by setting up a National Research Foundation (NRF), their purchases are on hold and project staff have not been paid for three months. Private funding is welcome, but the Government funding should not stop,” the Congress president stated.
Budget 2023 slashed the funds for scientific research by 6.87%, he stated.
“In 2017, the scientific community was forced to stage nationwide protests in 27 cities to register their concerns about paltry funding, fund cuts and pseudo-science propagated by the Modi Government,” he stated.
In 2015, the Modi government had requested organisations concerned in scientific research to begin “self-financing” initiatives, which meant they must elevate their very own funding for research, Mr. Kharge stated.
“Modi Government has time and again displayed its utter disdain and contempt against encouraging scientific temper,” he alleged.
“PM Modi might speak about — Jai Vigyaan, Jai anusandhan — but sadly, his government wishes to — parajay vigyaan, parajay anusandhan (defeat science, defeat research),” Mr. Kharge stated.
Earlier, senior Congress chief P. Chidamabram took a swipe on the Centre over the matter, saying perhaps the government will coin a brand new slogan ‘minimal funds, most research’.
Citing the identical media report as Mr. Kharge, Mr. Chidambaram stated that on account of this, purchases are on maintain and challenge employees haven’t been paid for 3 months.
He additionally quoted senior scientist, S.C. Lakhotia, as saying that he’s paying his challenge employees from his personal pocket.
Why are the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Biotechnology silent on the matter, the previous Union Minister requested.
“Maybe the Government will coin a new slogan this week: minimum funds, maximum research,” Mr. Chidambaram stated on Twitter.
