Family-members of billionaires who are close to the present dispensation at the centre are being chosen or being considered to give coveted plum-positions at a public central university.

The social sciences faculty at the BHU had sent a proposal to Reliance Foundation, asking Nita Ambani to join the university as a visiting faculty at their Women Study Centre. This Proposal of Banaras Hindu University to appoint Mrs. Ambani as a visiting faculty is being opposed by students who see it as a “wrong example” being set by the university.

A group of 40 students, on Tuesday, protested outside the on-campus residence of Rakesh Bhatnagar, the Vice-Chancellor of BHU & submitted a memorandum in this regard. The authorities in BHU confirmed that the other two names that are being considered for visiting faculty were that of Priti Adani, the wife of Gautam Adani & Usha Mittal, the wife of UK based Lakshmi Mittal. Around two decades ago, the Women Study centre of the Social Sciences Faculty was established.

BHU authorities asserted that Nita Ambani was chosen to join the Women Study Centre as a visiting professor so that the university can benefit from her experience in the field of women empowerment.

Protesting students and research scholars alleged that the step “smacked of a conspiracy”, setting up a wrong example. They further added that being the wife of a rich person is not an achievement and these people cannot be icons for students.