Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani declined to be the chief guest at the Delhi University’s 94th Foundation Day on May 1 citing reasons of “prior engagement”.

While the university was preparing a “red carpet” welcome to the Union Minister, who was at loggerheads with its former Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh, there was a buzz that the newly appointed V-C Yogesh Tyagi had sent a “special invite” to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Irani but the PM’s office clearly mentioned that he would “not be available on the given date”, university had got a nod from Irani. The DU had also flashed Irani’s name among the distinguished guests for the function May 1, on its official website.

“She is not free on the day... We learnt the Minister has some other engagements on the same day. She would no longer be a part of the function. The office of the Minister also sent a formal communication to us,” Tyagi told The Pioneer.  The university plans to hoist the national flag permanently on its Vice Regal lodge, a heritage building where the V-C office is set up. This would also have been the first official visit to the university by the Union Minister after having resumed office at the Centre.

An official from the university said, “The university was preparing a grand welcome to Irani. The V-C lodge was being spruced up with lights but this is surely a disappointment that neither PM nor the Education Minister has accepted the invite.”

According to sources, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also been invited. Tyagi refused to comment whether the CM has given consent to join the function or not. “We have sent open invitations to both the Centre and the State Government. I would not specify the names but all are openly invited to join us,”  said the V-C.

Also, Tyagi said alumni who are part of administration, and judiciary would be felicitated for their “service to the university”.

“Alumni would be felicitated for their distinguished service and added that non-teaching staff would also be given awards for their service,” he said.

During, Dinesh Singh’s term, professors from various colleges were given out awards, on basis of the feedback from the students.