Prof who called Dalits, Muslims ‘antinational’ is ICSSR member

Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Amita Singh, who had last year created a controversy after her alleged remark that Dalits and Muslims are “anti-nationals”, is among the 13 people selected by the ministry of human resource development as the member of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

The ministry had last month appointed anthropologist Brij Bihari Kumar as the chairman of ICSSR. According to sources, after his appointment other members of the council are being appointed.

The ICSSR was established in 1969 by the central government to promote research in social sciences. It gives grants to institutions and scholars, and reviews the progress of social science research.

Among those who have been chosen as the members are JNU professors Amita Singh and Ashwini Mahapatra, Delhi University professor and honorary director of India Policy foundation, Rakesh Sinha, and Bihar University Vice Chancellor HCS Rathore.

Singh, who heads the JNU’s Centre of Law and Governance, had created a controversy during the sedition row at the varsity by allegedly calling Dalits and Muslims as “anti-nationals”.

While the professor had maintained that she was “quoted out of context”, the National Commission for Scheduled Caste had sent a show-cause notice to JNU over the issue.

A few selected members of the ICSSR include Pune University professor Shantishree Pandit, management professor P Kangasabapathi, economics professor Sanjay Satyarthi, linguist from the Hyderabad Central University Panchanan Mohanty, Dalit woman academician KS Khobragade, TS Naidu, PV Krishna Bhatt and HS Bedi.