Ex-CEA Subramanian accused of instigating student rebellion

Former Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian is alleged to have instigated Ashoka University students to go on a rebellion after his resignation.

Subramanian resigned days after Pratap Bhanu Mehta as Professor which led to a huge controversy at the varsity.

"Here is @arvindsubraman instigating a student rebellion in @AshokaUniv. Think about what kind of a teacher or academic such a person is who concentrates his time in instigating rebellion rather than doing anything purposeful," Suresh Nakhua, BJP Mumbai spokesperson said in a tweet and attaching a video.

Subramanian is heard telling students, "You know how to do these things. You have done them very well in the past few days. Keep it up". The exact context of what "things" is not clear in the video whether it instigates a rebellion.

In the video, Subramanian is heard saying that maybe the the board of Ashoka University is too narrow with only the funders in it. He adds that there is some reflection to be done by students if the board should be more diversified and well represented with maybe even students and acclaimed persons from other walks of life.

The Ashoka University Students Government charged the Founders, Chancellor and Vice Chancellor with failure in protecting the University faculty from external pressures.

In reference to the resignation of Pratap Bhanu Mehta, the students said in a letter that the events point to a failure of Founders, Chancellor and Vice Chancellor in protecting the faculty.

They said this also has implications for freedom of speech for the students and faculty. This is not the first time that faculty came under attack for opinions and course content and students are worried what is the support they will get in future or will they have to self-censure and what this means for the quality of education.

Immediately after Mehta's resignation, the students and faculty had demanded transparency from the Founders and university administration on the events that unfolded.

They said that Professors Mehta and Subramanian are invaluable members of the faculty and they are saddened by the circumstances that led to the resignations.

The students said they are receiving information about the resignations from media articles without any confirmation from Vice Chancellor Malabika Sarkar, Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee and the Founders and Trustees.

"The information asymmetry that exists between the Founders, administration and us is disheartening and disappointing. There is an urgent need to hold them accountable and push them to establish clear channels of communication," students and faculty said.