JNUSU criticises JNU VC for invitation to ABVP leader

The JNU Students Union has criticised the university Vice-Chancellor for the invitation given to an ABVP office bearer to a book release function held on the varsity campus today.
The book 'Serendipity and the American Dream' authored by JNU alumnus Dr Manan Dwivedi, was released at Convention Centre of JNU. The university VC Prof Jagdesh Kumar, Rector Prof Chintamani Mahapatra attended the function.
The national organisation secretary of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad(ABVP) Sunil Ambekar was also invited in the book release function but he could not attend it.
The Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was also an invitee but he also could not make it to the function.

The JNUSU expressed its annoyance over invitation to Ambekar and attacked the VC over it.
"Every activity of JNU VC shows that he is not here to serve the idea of JNU that took shape through debate-discussion and academic rigor in JNU, but, he is here to give stage to RSS-ABVP functionaries who are against the idea of JNU," said a statement from the students union.

However, the University administration denied that the invitees were chosen by it.
"It was a personal choice of the author and the university played no role in it," said Dr Ramesh C Gaur, University Librarian, who conducted the proceedings of book release.

Dr Dwivedi also said that the function and its guest list was of his own choice.
"I am an alumnus of JNU. The university has provided platform to persons of divergent political ideologies in the past. I don't think invitation to Ambekar was wrong unless it was against the rules of the university. He, however, could not come as he was busy in some programme in Indore," Dr Dwivedi said.
The ABVP leaders at JNU accused JNUSU of indulging in "myopic" politics and being "intolerant" over the issue.
"The myopic politics of JNU's left brigade steered by JNUSU today touched its lowest ebb when it came out in opposition to the invitation of Sunil Ambekar in a book launch today in JNU. It reflects sheer intolerance on the part of JNUSU that aims to make JNU its fiefdom," said ABVP leader Saurabh Sharma.