Rahul backs petition for recalling Jayant Sinha's Harvard alumni status

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed as disgusting Union Minister Jayant Sinhas action of felicitating seven convicted cow vigilantes after they were released on bail and sought support for a petition that seeks withdrawal of his Harvard alumni status.

"If the sight of a highly educated MP and Central Minister, Jayant Sinha, garlanding and honouring criminals convicted of lynching an innocent man, fills you with disgust, click on the link and support this petition," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.

Gandhi shared a link to sign the petition on change.org, a petition website.

The petition by Prateek Kanwal, a 2018 graduate from Harvard University, said that action by the BJP Minister had "shocked the nation and brought disrepute to our great institution".

In a letter addressed to the President of Harvard University, Kanwal said he has been forced to write the letter on behalf of the concerned citizens of India to bring attention to "the infamy" that Sinha (Harvard Business School, 1992) has gained in India and "the disrepute he has brought your university by his intemperate actions".

The petition said Sinha's "callous and insensitive actions" have generated tremendous anger in India and have been widely reported by the media.

"Unfortunately, most media reports allude to the fact that he is an alumnus of Harvard University, It is now up to you to restore faith in the power of working with and through our network.

"Under the circumstances, you may consider issuing a statement strongly condemning his actions. We also ask that you withdraw his alumni status on account of his inappropriate behaviour that has brought disrespect to the name of your hallowed institution," the letter said.

--IANS

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