Patna: Jamia Milia Islamia’s media coordinator Mukesh Ranjan on Saturday said that he has not come across any reports of protests against invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the university’s convocation and expressed hope that the former would grace the occasion with his presence. “I am not aware of such reports of protest. In the past, we have been inviting constitutional authorities for our annual convocation,” Ranjan said. “This time, we have extended our invitation to the Prime Minister to visit us for the convocation. We are hopeful that we will have an opportunity to host him on the campus,” he added.
Unconfirmed reports earlier said that the varsity’s invitation to Prime Minister Modi for the convocation had triggered a strong reaction among some of the alumni and that they had written to the Vice Chancellor urging him to withdraw it in view of the comments made by the former against the university in 2008.
Prime Minister Modi had criticised Jamia in 2008 after the Batla House encounter in September that year. Jamia had earlier this month sent an invitation to the Prime Minister to be the chief guest at its annual convocation this year. However, the varsity authorities have not received any acceptance or acknowledgment from the PMO so far in this regard.
PTI