PM lays the foundation stone of an Engineering College at Malda in West Bengal

MALDA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today laid the foundation stone of an Engineering College ‘ Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology’ at Malda in West Bengal today. The institute is to be established after the name of late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury representative of Malda in Loksabha for over 25 years since 1980. UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi was also with the prime Minister.

On arrival, the leaders were received by the Governor of west Bengal, State Ministers and family members of Ghani Khan Choudhury.

While addressing the public present at the brief function, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi highlighted the initiative of UPA Government on education and women’s security issues.

Following Mrs. Gandhi, the prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said, “Good number of higher educated manpower is needed to maintain the rapid pace of India’s economical development. UPA Government understands that. So we have earmarked 4% of our GDP for education sector. Assistance of Rs 26.6 crore has already been granted for this new institute. I am sure, this will come up as one of the best institutes of the country.”

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for establishment of the institute as a Centrally funded one. This will adopt modular pattern of teaching like Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology (SLIET), Longowal, Punjab. Beginning with certificate courses, the Institution will offer Diploma, Degree and Post-graduate courses afterward. Total project outlay of the Institute will be around Rs. 97 crores.

However, though invited, West Bengal Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee was not in the function. “This was to avoid sharing common platform with UPA top leaders which whom Miss Banerjee do not have cool political relationship any more,” said political observers.

With a battalion of 19 Loksabha MPs, Miss Banerjee’s party TMC was one of the main pillars of the UPA Government till Ms. Banerjee decided to come out of the Government following her difference of opinion with Government on FDI issue. Subsequently, tussles over economic policies or president election caused further downfall in the relationship.