Posters term BHU VC 'anti-Hindi', ask him to quit

VARANASI: Posters against Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice-chancellor Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar, demanding his resignation for alleged anti-Hindi stance, have surfaced across Varanasi on Friday. Inscriptions on the hoardings read, 'BHU VC Hindi Virodhi'.
Questioning the VC as to why step-motherly treatment is being given to Hindi and Hindi-speaking students on the campus, the posters have come at a time when the university is hosting its international alumni meet.A group of students even displayed such posters at the inaugural function of the meet on Friday, raised slogans and then left the venue.
The controversy over Hindi began on the campus with interviews for the post of assistant professor in the Ancient Indian History and Culture & Archaeology department held in the first week of January. Several candidates and students had alleged that partiality was done with Hindi-speaking candidates in the interview and they were even suggested to learn 'proper' English to qualify.
Protesting the alleged discrimination, a group of students had staged a sit-in on on the campus January 4 and submitted a memorandum to the office of registrar, alleging that "misbehaviour was done with Hindi-speaking candidates and they were discouraged to take part in the interview". They even took out a march on the occasion of Hindi Diwas recently.
On Friday, BHU spokesperson Rajesh Singh denied the allegation. "The interview was conducted as per prescribed norms. No one misbehaved with any candidate and no partiality was shown on the basis of language."