Students protest the appointment of Dr Firoz Khan as assistant professor in Banaras Hindu University.

VARANASI: Appointment of Dr Firoz Khan as assistant professor in Sahitya (literature) department of the faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Dharm Vigyan of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has annoyed many in this faculty as scores of them started a sit-in at Holkar Bhawan near vice-chancellor's residence at the varsity campus on Thursday demanding cancellation of his appointment.

However, the varsity administration made it clear that the appointment has been made as per the rules of UGC and BHU Act by a transparent process only on the basis of the eligibility of the candidate.

A high drama was created near the VC's residence on Thursday afternoon when scores of faculty members of SVDV started sit-in and demonstration with musical instruments. When contacted, PhD scholars of the faculty, Shriram Puradhipati, Shashikant Mishra and Shubham Tiwari claimed that the varsity’s founder late Pt Madan Mohan Malviya had termed the SVDV faculty as the heart of the varsity. The stone-plate of the faculty also contains that this institution is for cultural religious, historical debates and discussion of Sanatan Hindus and their direct or indirect branches like Arya Samaj , Bauddh, Jain, Sikh etc only.

They said that as the new appointment is against the soul and spirit of this institution, they are demanding cancellation of the appointment. Busy in reciting Kirtan on the beats of dhol and majira, they said that their stir will continue till their demand is met. They also sent a demand letter to the VC office.

When contacted, the varsity spokesman Rajesh Singh said that following an interview, Dr Firoz Khan has been appointed in Sahitya department of the faculty of SVDV. Refusing to comment on the protest started by the faculty students, he said that varsity has made this appointment as per the UGC rules and BHU Act in which discrimination on the basis of caste and creed has no place. The appointment has been made with full transparency and only on the basis of the eligibility of the candidate.

