JNU Student Union Protests Invite Extended by Administration to Baba Ramdev
NEW DELHI: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev in the thick of a controversy over him being invited by the Jawaharlal Lal Nehru University (JNU) to deliver a keynote address to the students has denied of any conformation to invitation from the varsity on Monday.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) which staunchly protests’s this invitation asked the administration to withdraw it.
While the varsity administration maintained that it has not heard of any denial or acceptance of the invitation from Ramdev, it clarified that it stands by the invitation.
"The invitation to Ramdev was extended due to the quality work he has done in the field of Yoga. The administration has no agenda to support any political affiliations. Students have a right to register their protest but we stand by the invite extended to him," said JNU Professor G N Jha, member of the organising committee.
“There are specific reasons that we oppose this invitation. Ramdev might be a Yoga guru but he has nothing to do with Vedanta. The university which stands for sexual fluidity has a new logo for the third gender would invite a person who terms such people as sick minded is itself a caveat” JNU Student’s Union (JNUSU) vice-president Shehla Rashid Shora toldExpress.
Further Rashid believes that this does not go with the JNU culture, as the thinking of the Yoga guru is designed for specific sections of the society, which is rejected by the students and will be protested.
The Joint-Secretary of the JNU student Union Saurabh Sharma an ABVP member believes that students will welcome Ramdev looking at his contributions to the fuield of Yago and Indian culture.
“Those saying that this is right –wing leaning are wrong, Baba Ramdev has contributed immensely to the Indian culture and Yoga, for which he is admired all over the world. It will be fortunate for the students to listen to him, he will not face any protest. If not this time I will invite him on some other occasion to JNU on student platform very soon” Sharma toldExpress.
Ramdev tweeted "Me or my office has not confirmed for any talk or event at JNU. I would have surely gone to JNU if time allowed to have candid, scientific & logical discussion, even with my ideological adversaries. I will love to talk to students & faculty at JNU, whenever it’s possible in near future".
Ramdev has been invited to deliver the key-note address on December 30 at the three-day convention-- organised by the university's Special Center for Sanskrit Studies.