Pinarayi Vijayan said the research institute “has been above the political divide.” (Archive)
Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan asking him not to change the name of the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology (RGCB) in Thiruvananthapuram under the ideologue of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, MS Golwalkar.
Harsh Vardhan had said on Friday that the second RGCB campus would be renamed “National Shri Guruji Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar Center for Complex Diseases in Cancer and Viral Infections”, while addressing the opening of the International Science Festival of India which is will be held from December 22 to 25.
In the letter, the Chief Minister of Kerala said that the RGCB is an advanced research institute and “has been above the political divide”.
“The RGCB was initially managed by the state government and handed over to the government of India with the aim of making it a center that meets international standards in research and development,” Vijayan wrote in the letter. “With this in mind, the Kerala government is of the opinion that the campus should be named after some eminent Indian scientist of international reputation instead of the proposed name,” he wrote.
“I ask you to reconsider the decision, if it has already been made, or not to contemplate it, if it has not yet been made. I hope that your ministry will favorably consider our proposal to name the new campus after an eminent Indian scientist. This will maintain the reputation of the institution and will help avoid controversy in the public domain, “Vijayan wrote.
Criticizing the move, LDF coordinator and CPI (M) secretary of state, A Vijayaraghavan, said: “This is exactly how the BJP works. They usually try to mention communal symbols. During the campaign in the elections of Hyderabad, they wanted to change the name of the city. They changed the name of Allahabad and they want to change the names of other cities. That is the style of BJP, as part of that, in Kerala they have given the name of Sanghparivar to a scientific institute His idea is to communalize everything and unfold communal thoughts in people’s minds. “
The opposition leader in the Kerala assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, Ramesh Chennithala, also questioned the move. “Strongly condemn the central government’s decision to appoint Gowalkar to the new bloc of the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology. Before giving his name, Modi Govt should explain to the people of Kerala the contributions made by Gowalkar to our nation,” he said.
The congressional deputy, Shashi Tharoor, in a series of tweets questioned the decision to change the name of the institute.
“… What is MSG’s contribution to science besides promoting the disease of communalism? As for Rajiv Gandhi’s contribution, he inspired scientific innovation and allocated funds for it. Aren’t there BJP icons that at least have they tried to do the same? Should the center commemorate a fanatical Hitler admirer who in a 1966 speech to VHP asserted the supremacy of religion over science (sic)? “Tharoor tweeted.
As for RajivGandhi’s contribution, he inspired scientific innovation and allocated funds for it. Aren’t there any BJP icons that have at least tried to do the same? Should GoI commemorate a fanatical Hitler admirer who in a 1966 speech to the VHP asserted the supremacy of religion over science?
– Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 5, 2020
“I suggest a local hero: Dr. P Palpu, renowned bacteriologist and social reformer, born in Thiruvananthapuram, 1863. Expert in serum therapy and Cambridge tropical medicine. Director of the Vaccine Institute and Member of the Royal Institute of Public Health”, Mr. Tharoor tweeted.
“This forward-thinking scientist and physician would be far more appropriate than an obscurantist ideologue with no scientific achievement and no discernible contribution to public health. It is a BJP insult to Thiruvananthapuram and should be resisted,” Tharoor tweeted.
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