Assured smooth function, NU okays Kashmir VC talk

Nagpur: Against the backdrop of Pulwama terror attack and targeting of Kashmiris across the nation, the Nagpur University (NU) has taken precaution that there is no opposition to the geology department’s upcoming national seminar on petrology, where University of Kashmir vice chancellor Talat Ahmad would be the chief guest. The event is scheduled at Vanamati on February 23.
Given the NU’s chequered past of courting controversy with personalities and activities opposed to the government and saffron outfits, varsity top officials convened a meeting of the organizing committee on Wednesday at its main building to discuss the seminar.

Though NU top officers have denied any such issue was discussed during the meeting, it is learnt that varsity officials spoke to hardliners to ensure that there are no protests before the seminar.

Last month, four professors from NU departments were issued notices for holding a talk in Marathi department hall on author Nayantara Sahgal after ABVP’s Vishnu Changde objected to it. In March, 2017, the NU had called off a lecture by CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury scheduled at NU’s convocation hall after opposition from saffron hardliners.

Saffron outfits like Shikshan Manch and ABVP said they were not opposed to the Kashmir VC’s participation as they were not against academicians, students or people of the Valley. A department professor said Ahmad, a geologist himself, hails from the Hindi heartland and had served as VC of Delhi earlier. He has done considerable work during his stint in central universities and had been close to former HRD minister Smriti Irani.