The controversy in Kerala on Central Government’s decision to name new Rajiv Gandhi Centre of Biotechnology campus after RSS ideologue MS Golwalkar continues. The LDF and Congress have lashed out against the union government’s decision, saying that it is a part of the BJP’s plan to communalise everything.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala strongly criticised the Centre’s move saying that naming the campus after Golwalkar is not acceptable and added that he had written to the prime minister requesting that the decision be withdrawn. “Before giving his name Modi government should explain to the people of Kerala about the contributions made by Gowalkar to our nation, ” Chennithala said.
Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor questioned Golwalkar’s contribution to science other than promoting the disease of communalism.
“Are there no BJP icons who’ve a minimum of tried to do the identical factor?” Tharoor tweeted. “What is MSG’s contribution to science other than promoting the disease of communalism?” he asked.
Another congress MP, T.N. Prathapan wrote a letter to the Prime Minister demanding the repeal of the decision. He later posted a note in his Facebook page asking ‘how an advanced institution of science and reason on health studies be named after an Indian Nazi?’
Condemning the decision, CPI-M Politburo member MA Baby said “This is a plan hatched by the RSS to make inroads into Kerala by dividing the society. The democratic society of Kerala should oppose this move together.”
CPI-M state secretary A Vijayaraghavan said the BJP is attempting to bring communal elements to the forefront. “As part of this plan, they decided to name the new campus of the RGCB after Golwalkar,” Vijayaraghavan said
Senior CPI leader Mullakkara Ratnakaran suggested the name of Dr Palpu, a famed bacteriologist and social reformer for the institute. Sashi Tharoor also suggested the name of DrPalpu, saying that he (Palpu) was an expert in serum therapy and tropical medicine
While addressing the curtain raiser session of the sixth edition of India International Science Festival (IISF), scheduled for December 2225, held online and organised by the RGCB, health minister Dr. Harshvardhan announced on Friday that the second campus will be named ‘Shri Guruji Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar National Centre for Complex Disease in Cancer and Viral Infection.’
The debate over naming the new campus of Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) after RSS ideologue M S Golwalkar is still refusing to die down with more political leaders expressing opposition to the move and BJP leaders backing it fiercely. Union minister V Muraleedharan on Sunday asked the critics whether the Nehru Trophy Boat Race was named after Jawaharlal Nehru because the first prime minister was a sportsman.
Responding to MP Shashi Tharoor’s demand that the RGCB campus be named after Dr P Palpu, he said: “Let Tharoor first say why Palpu’s name was ignored when the Perinthalmanna college was named after Pookoya Thangal.” He said the BJP state committee had no role in the naming and the decision was taken by the governing council of the RGCB.
K Surendran, BJP state president, said the naming of the second campus of RGCB after Golwalkar has become a straw of hope for the “left and right fronts” who are grappling with various issues. Addressing mediapersons in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, Surendran said the controversy over the naming of the campus is unnecessary.
