After protests by students, JNU cancels talk by Ramdev Baba

New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration on Monday informed the students' union that Ramdev's talk at the institution was cancelled, while the yoga guru tweeted that he hadn't confirmed his presence at all.

There was a lot of opposition among students to Ramdev being invited as a keynote speaker at the valedictory ceremony of the "22nd International Congress of Vedanta" on 30 December. A poster was also printed in which his name was mentioned as the keynote speaker.

However, Ramdev denied having confirmed his presence.

File photo. Image courtesy: PTI

"My office or I has not confirmed for any talk or event at JNU. I would have surely gone to JNU if time allowed to have candid, scientific & logical discussion, even with my ideological adversaries. I will love to talk to students & faculty at JNU, whenever its possible in near future," he tweeted.

JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) vice president Shehla Rashid, confirming the cancellation, said: "We had gone to talk to the administration, explaining our position and submitted a written memorandum. I just received an email from the JNU administration, saying Ramdev's talk has been cancelled and that he won't be visiting."

"I want to congratulate all the progressive sections of the university, including teachers and students, who supported this demand. It is a victory of the progressive tradition of JNU that Ramdev's visit stands cancelled. We will continue to fight against the onslaught of regressive ideologies," she added.

The "22nd International Congress of Vedanta" will be held during 27-30 December at JNU's Convention Centre.

Earlier, in a statement, Rashid said: "The silent right-wing onslaught on JNU continues. It is very unfortunate to know that JNU, a co-organiser of the '22nd International Congress of Vedanta', has allowed Baba Ramdev to be invited as a keynote speaker in the valedictory ceremony.

"It does not befit the stature of an academic institution like JNU to have persons with such a questionable and shameful background to address an academic gathering."

IANS