Yechury's lecture to be held at Ambedkar College in Nagpur

After the Nagpur University postponed a seminar where the CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury was to be the chief guest, the communist leader will now deliver a lecture at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar College here tomorrow.
The Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University had on March 15 indefinitely postponed the seminar on 'Erosion of Indian Democracy: Challenges and Solutions' on March 18 and 19 that was organised by the 'Post-graduate Department of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Thought' of the varsity.
A delegation of social activists led by former Congress minister Nitin Raut had met with vice chancellor (VC) on this issue.

However, according to Raut, the VC refused permission to hold the programme on the scheduled date.
Meanwhile, today the department of Economics, Political Science and History ofDr Ambedkar College, Deekshabhoomi issued a release stating that Yechury will be delivering a lecture in their college on Saturday.
HoD of the Economics department Gautam Kamble told PTI "We have received consent of Sitaram Yechury for the programme. His lecture will contribute in enlightening the students of our department," Kamble said.

Raut said "After the refusal by the VC to hold the seminar at Department of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Thought, Nagpur University we were trying to somehow get his lecture conducted.

"Yechury is a very learned speaker. He is not an anti-national that his speech should be cancelled. There was no question of any protest from any right wing group or any other group."
The former minister said, "However, when our delegation met the VC yesterday, he seemed to be under immense pressure.
"It is not the culture of Nagpur tostop anyone and restrict anybody's freedom of speech.