Owaisi Questions Reported Instructions to IIT-Delhi Students During PM’s Visit
New Delhi, Aug 8 (TNT): AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday questioned the reported instructions to students at IIT Delhi to bow their heads while receiving medals from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stand during Vedic chants during his visit to the institute.
Reacting to the reports, Owaisi questioned whether such instructions were in line with the constitutional values of scientific temper and freedom of inquiry that educational institutions are expected to uphold.
Referring to Article 51A(h) of the Constitution, which calls for developing scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform, Owaisi said, “Article 51A(H), which speaks of developing a scientific temper, has been thrown into the dustbin.”
He also cited Article 28, saying, “Article 28 says that no religious instruction shall be provided in educational institutions wholly maintained out of State funds.”
Owaisi questioned whether asking students to follow such instructions at an educational institution was consistent with constitutional values and the principles of scientific temper and freedom of inquiry.
He further said students should remember that “national interest means questioning the government.”
The AIMIM chief questioned whether such practices were compatible with the role of educational institutions in promoting critical thinking and inquiry in a democracy.
TNT KS
