The administration of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday criticised the student’s union for calling two-day strike to protest against the varsity for allegedly spending around Rs 13 lakh to host spiritual gurus Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Sadhguru.
JNUSU filed an RTI, seeking the money spend to host the spiritual gurus in December last year. JNUSU claimed that “The reply was shocking, When we asked the administration about the registrations of visually challenged student Munesh as he was failed by Japenses centre due to lack of proper facilities as JNU lacked funds, has spent nearly Rs 13 lakh to baba’s such as Sadhguru and sri sri. The varsity has spent around Rs 83000 alone on flight tickets for Sri Sri for a programme hosted in the varsity,” said the members of JNUSU.
The JNU student union announced that a two strike will be hosted on 8th and 9th January against the Varsity’s administration.
While the administration in its behalf said, “It is surprising that office bearers of yet-to-be-notified JNUSU have been spreading motivated misinformation on the social media questioning the wisdom of the university to invite two spiritual leaders and promoters of social harmony and peace.”
“It is most surprising that such concerns were never raised when previous administrations also invited similar great spiritual leaders to speak and interact with the members of the JNU community.
The arithmetic of the complainants is also questionable when innumerable students and faculty participate in such events,” the JNU registrar stated in a statement.
In fact, the amount of money that the university spends as part of holding elections for JNUSU office bearers and hostel nights every year is never questioned, he added.