Chennai: An alumnus of IIT- M and secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) K. Jayakumar has accused the Union HRD minister Smriti Irani of “interfering” in the affairs of the institute besides “displaying intolerance to others’ views or criticism.”
“This shows the conscious and continuous insinuation of the BJP-led government and its MP and frontline leaders in enforcing their philosophy and thoughts over the other sections of the society. Their intolerance to others’ views criticism and their acidic utterances make one feel whether the fabric of secularism and the democratic ideals of the country are intact. Ever since Mr Narendra Modi became Prime Minister the communal and divisive forces in the country are exhibiting their existence in one way or the other,” he said.
Listing out the HRD’s interferences in the IIT affairs in the past, he said Ms Irani ought to know that no action could be taken based on anonymous complaints as anyone can write complaints against anybody in our set-up. Without applying her mind or even knowing anything about the enquiry made, she defended the action of the director on de-recognising the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle, a student group.
She had been in the news for more of her controversial actions and remarks and now she had displayed her intolerance in the country’s prestigious educational institution. He alleged that the institution’s action “at the behest of the minister”, was nothing but interference in the harmonious functioning of the autonomous institution. The fundamental right of freedom of speech had been curbed. This hurried, unnecessary action invited external agencies-organisations and political parties to interfere in the otherwise harmonious functioning of the institute,” he said in an open letter.
