When he was picked up as the vice chancellor of the M S University of Baroda in 2005, his proximity to the then chief minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi was considered instrumental. And now when Manoj Soni has resigned as chairperson of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) due to “personal reasons” five years before his tenure ends, the very proximity is believed to have played a role.
Though it is said that his resignation is not linked to the controversy about UPSC candidates securing jobs based on fake certificates, the grapevine is that he could have put in papers to avoid embarrassment to Prime Minister Modi to whom he probably owes his rise and rise. He sent his papers to the President a month ago, reports indicate. The next session of the Parliament begins on July 22 and the Opposition in all likelihood is set to corner the government on the UPSC issue.
It is said that Soni, now 59, wants to spend more time in the Anoopam Mission, founded by Jashbhai Sahebji in Central Gujarat. Soni is follower of the Swaminarayan cult which runs this mission. Soni’s mother had also served in this Mission. Dr. Soni always spots a red tilak on the forehead.
A post-graduate in politics from the M. S. University of Baroda in 1990, where he went on to become the youngest vice chancellor in the country, Dr. Soni did his P.hD from Sardar Patel University at Vallabh Vidyanagar. He was 40 then.
Sources in the know of developments at both Vallabh Vidyanagar and Vadodara, told Vibes of India on the condition of anonymity that Dr. Soni had not even completed one year in Vallabh Vidyanagar that he was made the vice chancellor of the MSU, set up by Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad in 1949. A premier unitary residential university with English as the medium of instruction, the MSU still makes its mark across the globe.
His tenure of three years saw several agitations by student leaders on different issues. Recalled Narendra Ravat, a Congress leader, who was then a Senate member of the MSU, “Pandya Sir and I had done several protests during Dr. Soni’s tenure.” While Prof. Pandya is in the USA and could not be contacted, Ravat said that Dr. Soni was not even selected as a lecturer in the MSU. He alleged that Dr. Soni had made the MSU the BJP’s den.
Talking to VoI, a syndicate member during Dr. Soni’s stint, alleged the latter of saffronising the University. “Not a single appointment was done without asking the BJP. And how does it look when a lecturer level person sits for an interview to select a professor,” he said.
While there is no confirmation, the former syndicate member also alleged that Dr. Soni gave jobs and quarters to live to family members of the convicts of the Best Bakery case of 2002.
Dr. Soni always remained in the news for the wrong reasons like in 2007 when he suspended acting dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Professor Shivaji Panikkar for supporting a student from Andhra Pradesh in the annual appraisal show on the campus. Dr. Soni had believed that what the student Chandra Mohan had depicted on the canvas was affront to Hindu society.
Earlier in 2006, a committee formed by the VC had suggested to appoint Surekha Devy, head of the chemistry department, as the dean of the science faculty. Normally, the syndicate would approve the recommendation. However, it was rejected without giving any reason.
Mukesh Semwal, a research scholar in the political science department of the MSU, had then said that hostel wardens were selected on their pro RSS leanings and rectors of the hostels if they toe the saffron brigade.
The syndicate member even went on to allege that what you saw in the MSU, you are now seeing it in the country. “It was just the beginning,” he held.
Dr. Soni did not get a second term as the vice chancellor of the MSU. Former director of IIM-A Prof. Bakul Dholakia, who was on the search panel for the VC, had opposed tooth and nail Dr. Soni getting a second term.
Senior journalist Hari Desai, who was in Vallabh Vidyanagar in one of the institutes affiliated to the Sardar Patel University during Dr Soni’s time, recalled him as a down-to-earth and a simple person. “He would make tea and coffee on his own. When others can give an excuse of the peon not being around or so on and so forth, Dr. Soni would prepare tea himself,” he said. However, Desai categorically said that Dr. Soni is close to Jashbhai Sahebji and Modi.
Later, his tenure as the vice chancellor of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University also remained controversial and his move of appointing certain people on academic posts were questioned.
Sources said that a PIL was filed in the Gujarat High Court challenging appointments on academic posts.
A RTI activist said that there have been written complaints against Dr. Soni in Vallabh Vidyanagar and at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University. However, all of them were ignored and he was made the UPSC chairman, he said.
The RTI activist alleged that Dr. Soni has been aware about students “misusing” 10 percent quota for the economically weaker sections.
Attempts to reach out to Dr. Soni failed.
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