VC’s post: Only BJP, RSS people called for interview, says Prof

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 18

Prof Rupinder Tewari, who is one of the applicants for Panjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor’s post, alleged that teachers, who were affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) or the ruling BJP, were called for the interview at New Delhi on July 17.

“Look at the irony, chairman of the selection committee Prof Kapil Kapoor, was a mere ex-Pro VC and he interviewed candidates, who are VCs of Central and state universities. A majority of the candidates called for the interview are strong RSS/BJP sympathisers,” said Prof Tewari.

He said: “One of our colleagues was called for the interview. Everybody is aware of his academic and administrative credentials. He is way behind if compared to other applicants from the PU. His only credential is his association with the RSS.

“It’s a slap on the face of other PU applicants and teaching fraternity at large. To me, it is no less than a political rape and no PU professor and PUTA has condemned it,” he said.

He said that the serving VCs, who were called for the interview, should be asked to complete the responsibility bestowed upon them, before applying for the new post.

He said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javdekar, in this regard.

Another professor, who did not wish to be named, also said senior professors who were not from the RSS background should have been called for the interview.

Prof Tewari remained senator at PU for two consecutive terms, from 2008-16. He has been the founder of the Department of Microbial Biotechnology at PU. He has been the chief-mentor of the centre for innovation cluster in biotechnology and also the founder coordinator of the Chandigarh Innovation and Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC). He is currently the coordinator of the DST-policy research centre on promotion of industry-academia interactions since 2014.