Sri Vijaya Puram | March 20, 2026
Mr. TSG Bhasker, Advisor of the Joint Action Forum (JAF), during a recent visit to New Delhi, met Dr. (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), to discuss concerns surrounding the proposed Deemed University in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
During the meeting, Bhasker conveyed the apprehensions of various stakeholders regarding the proposal, highlighting its potential implications for the local population. He elaborated on issues raised by the JAF and outlined the forum’s objections to the establishment of the institution in its current form.
A detailed representation was also submitted by Bhasker on behalf of the Joint Action Forum, presenting the collective concerns and demands of the people of the islands.
He was accompanied by members of the Tribal Council, who also expressed strong objections to the proposed Deemed University and voiced their concerns during the interaction.
According to JAF, Dr. Mittal expressed support for the concerns raised by the delegation and assured that the matter would be taken up at her level. She also advised the delegation to engage with officials of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for further discussion.
Subsequently, the delegation visited the UGC and met concerned officials, where they discussed the issue in detail.
