Amid reports that majority of the 44 deemed universities facing derecognition have been given permission during previous HRD Minister Arjun Singh's tenure, Congress on Wednesday sought "very, very exemplary punishment" if any corruption was involved.
'The report of the task force suggests lot of acts of omission...There should be very, very exemplary punishment if corruption is found," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in reply to a volley of questions on the issue.
At the same time, Singhvi asked the media not to generalise the issue when asked that most of these universities, which now face the prospects of derecognition, were controlled by politicians.
"If there is a wrongdoing, please don't personalise it ... irrespective of the period and the person involved, it requires an in-depth investigation. The Supreme Court is doing it," he said.
Singhvi insisted that what was required was a "healing touch" to the students studying in these institutes.
HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has already announced that no student of these deemed universities would be affected and they would all get degrees. PTI
