'Jai Nathuram University': Congress leader's dig at govt over new JNU VC appointment

New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University's transition from one of the best universities in India to becoming "Jai Nathuram University" seems to be getting consolidated and deepened, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday amid criticism from some quarters over Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit's appointment as its VC.

His remarks came a day after BJP MP Varun Gandhi slammed the choice of Pandit as the vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, saying such "mediocre appointments serve to damage our human capital and our youth's future".

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Taking to Twitter, Ramesh said, "3 Ministers in the Modi Cabinet are from the old JNU. Sadly, its transition from one of the best universities in India to becoming Jai Nathuram University seems to be getting consolidated and deepened."

3 Ministers in the Modi Cabinet are from the old JNU. Sadly, its transition from one of the best universities in India to becoming Jai Nathuram University seems to be getting consolidated and deepened.

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 9, 2022

BJP MP Varun Gandhi shared on Twitter the press release put out by Pandit after she took over, and said this is an exhibition of "illiteracy". Gandhi said, "This press release from the new JNU VC is an exhibition of illiteracy, littered with grammatical mistakes (would strive vs will strive; students friendly vs student-friendly; excellences vs excellence). Such mediocre appointments serve to damage our human capital & our youth's future."

Pandit, 59, is the first woman VC of JNU. She is also an alumna of JNU where she pursued her MPhil as well as PhD in international relations. There has been criticism of her appointment from some quarters.