Congress supports BHU administration on Muslim Sanskrit professor’s appointment

VARANASI: After over two weeks of continuous sit-in stir by students of Sanskrit Vidya Dharm Vigyan, Banaras Hindu University since November 7 in protest against appointment of a Muslim teacher in the faculty, Congress has come forward in support of BHU administration on the issue.
A Congress delegation led by former MLA Ajay Rai submitted a memorandum to BHU vice-chancellor Professor Rakesh Bhatnagar on Wednesday, and urged him for the restoration of academic environment on campus.
Students stage a dharna at BHU against the appointment of a Muslim teacher of Sanskrit on Wednesday. (PTI photo)

“The selection committee and BHU V-C should be appreciated for conducting a fair selection process in Khan’s appointment. But, some anti-social elements on the campus are opposing it on communal grounds and trying to pollute the academic atmosphere,” said Rai, adding that there is a need of immediate and effective check on it. The delegation also raised the issue of RSS flag in BHU’s south campus in Barkachha. Congressmen accused the RSS of playing communal card on BHU campus. “It seems that BHU is becoming the workshop of RSS leaders to execute their plan,” they said referring to the action taken against the deputy chief proctor at BHUs Rajiv Gandhi South Campus in Barkachha (Mirzapur) for removing the RSS flag from the campus.
“It is a constitutional crime to put a flag of some particular party in academic institutions, they said and urged the V-C for a high-level probe into the matter. The Congress delegation included district president Prajanath Sharma, state general secretary of Youth Congress Raghvendra Chaubey, Vikas Singh, Chanchal Sharma and others. Firoz Khan, a native of Jaipur (Rajasthan), has been recently appointed as an assistant professor in the faculty of SVDV. His appointment is being opposed by SVDV students who sat on dharna near V-C’s residence. The BHU administration, however, made it clear that Khan has been appointed on merit and as per the rules of UGC and BHU Act.