A significant number of academicians, comprising vice chancellors and former VCs, have come forward to condemn Rahul Gandhi from the Congress party for allegedly disseminating inaccurate information concerning the process of appointing university heads. The group claims that Gandhi has made claims suggesting that VCs are chosen based on their affiliations rather than their qualifications, undermining the rigorous and transparent selection procedure grounded in meritocracy that, according to them, prioritizes scholarly distinction and integrity.
Among the prominent names supporting this stance are Jawaharlal University Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Delhi University VC Yogesh Singh, and AICTE Chairman T G Sitharam, who are signatories to an open letter denouncing Gandhi's assertions. The coalition emphasizes that the appointment process for VCs is fundamentally rooted in academic and administrative proficiency, aiming to propel universities forward with a clear vision and without any bias toward organizational affiliations. While not directly citing Gandhi's specific allegations, they allude to his previous statements indicating that connections to the Hindutva organization RSS play a significant role in academic appointments.