Gorakhpur: In a recent political controversy, UP Congress committee president Ajay Rai accused the vice-chancellor of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University (DDU), Prof Poonam Tandon, of distributing invitation cards for an event organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The programme, which marks the ABVP's 70th National Convention, is set to take place at the university's sports complex. Rai condemned the alleged involvement of the VC in promoting a specific student body associated with the BJP.
Prof Tandon, however, dismissed the accusation as ‘false and baseless', stating, "I am not the host of the programme, nor did I distribute invitation letters. I was invited in the programme but could not attend due to prior commitments." She maintained that she had no role in organizing the event.
Gorakhpur Congress district president Nirmala Paswan said, "BJP govt is using university administrators to push its agenda, which is shameful. Openly supporting a political group compromises the integrity and neutrality of the vice-chancellor's office." tnn