VC who prompted students to kill, defends his ‘literary’ style   

The Vice Chancellor of Purvanchal University, who is in the news for exhorting his students to beat up and kill people they have a fight with, has claimed that his words had been distorted by the media. Dr Raja Ram Yadav, a former Professor of Physics in Allahabad University, is reported to have claimed that he was merely asking students to be strong.

Media reports quoted the VC, who could not be contacted on phone, as saying that it was his ‘literary’ ( Sahityik) style of speaking that had led to the misunderstanding. This was how he always spoke, he said.

On Sunday, after the video clip of the VC telling students that he would ‘handle’ the situation and protect the students even if they murder people went viral, Uttar Pradesh Government sought a clarification from him. Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma confirmed that the VC had been asked to explain and put up his version of what he meant while addressing an event in a college affiliated to the state university.

The move followed widespread outrage over the shocking speech. Former J & K chief minister Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to point out that a section of the Vice Chancellor’s audience actually can be heard applauding the provocative statement.

“Get in to a fight, commit a murder as a result and this university VC will take care of things. This is what passes for an education in some places these days. Not surprisingly the audience even applauds his assertion,” tweeted Abdullah.

The former Physics Professor, with close links to the RSS, was appointed Vice Chancellor barely eight months ago in May this year. The state university based at Jaunpur is said to have as many as 350 colleges affiliated to it.

After he took over as Vice Chancellor, Dr Yadav is said to have introduced ‘ Ram Katha’ in the University. He has also established Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Institute for conducting studies on the philosophy of the late RSS ideologue.

It is not clear though how the VC would defend himself, especially since the video clip has him saying clearly the following in his rambling, often incoherent, speech:

• “Yuwa(jo) chahta wahi hota hai; jo chattano me pair marta hai to pani nikalta hai. Chhatra jo apne jeevan me sanklap leta hai aur use pura karta hai usi ko Purvanchal university ka chhatra kahte hai.”

(What the youth desire is what happens. Youth are the ones who unleash a spring by just kicking a rock. Those who are resolute and successfully carry out what they have resolved are the ones who have the right to be called students of Purvanchal University.)”

• “Yadi app Purvanchal University ke chhatra hain to mere paas kabhi rote huye mat aana. Yadi kisi se jhagda ho jaye to uski pitai karke aana, bas chale to murder karke aana, uske baad ham dekh lenge”

(If you are a student of Purvanchal university, don’t come to me crying. If you get into a fight with someone, beat up that person. If possible,commit a murder and kill before you come to me. We will take care of things after that.)