University Vice-Chancellor apologises over derogatory remark against women

NEW DELHI - The Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Vibhuti Narayan Rai, on Tuesday apologised for derogatory remarks against women.

Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal today called Rai over demands made by the women writers seeking his dismissal.

After his meeting with Sibal, Rai tendered his apology to the women writers that include Ramnika Gupta, Pushpa, Vimal Thorat and Radhika.

“Most of them (women writers) are my friends. Those who are speaking against me, most of them are my friends, and I have apologised to them that if they are hurt by my writing for that I apologise,” said Rai.

The writers, however, did not appear pleased with the apology and later met Sibal in the presence of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Brinda Karat.

“Our demand is that Rai should be dismissed such Vice-Chancellor who is in position of power and had given this statement on personal prejudices. As he is in a position of authority this apology has to be given. But the thing is he has to be dismissed. He cannot continue in this position. To continue in this post is morally wrong,” said Writer Radhika.

Another writer Rekha Awasthi said the apology of Vibhuti Narayan Rai will be visible on the website of the Union Human Resource and Development Ministry.

“In the first part of this struggle, a Vice-Chancellor had to come to the Ministry after being summoned by the Minister, and Minister has asked for unconditional apology letter. This apology letter will appear after one and a half hour on the website,” she added.

It has been reported that in an interview to a Hindi journal, Rai, while commenting on the centring of feminist discourse on the female body, had called women writers ‘chhinaal’, or sluts, after which protests started pouring in from all quarters. (ANI)