‘IITK HAS AGREED TO AMBEDKAR PORTRAIT, STATUE ON CAMPUS’

KANPUR : The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, will soon have a statue of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar on its sprawling campus. His portrait will be hung in the conference hall of the institute and the institute will give a no-objection certificate for the registration of the Ambedkar Vichar Manch, an SC/ST association, without any delay, said Swaraj Vidwat, member of National Commission for Scheduled Castes, who met the IIT-K director on Wednesday.

She said IIT-K director Abhay Karindikar made all these promises and that she got assurances that all her demands would be fulfilled at the earliest.

While the institute and Vidwat both chose not to elaborate on the assurances, some see it as an effort of IIT Kanpur to settle the Prof Subramanyam Sardela issue. An assistant professor in aerospace engineering, Sardela had recently filed an FIR accusing four upper caste professors of allegedly harassing him because of his caste.

His action caused an uproar on the campus.

Swaraj was here to participate in a three-day 24th convention of the All India SC/ST Federation held in IIT Kanpur. Representatives of seven old IITs Guwahati, Madras, Bombay, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Kanpur and Delhi IITs participated in the convention.

Her meeting with Prof Sardela fuelled speculation that his issue could be taken up at the SC/ST conclave and cause uneasiness within the IIT ranks. She met the director on Wednesday and took up several issues. “We spoke about a roster system, transfers and promotions of SC employees in the institute,” she said.

“The director assured me of justice in every matter,” she said. The director also agreed to issue an NOC necessary for the registration of an SC/ST association and provide all the facilities to it. The AISCSTF was demanding the NOC for registering the association, installation of the statue of Dr Ambedkar and an equipped office room for the association.

On being asked about the Sadrela case, Swaraj said that as the case was subjudice, it was not appropriate for her to comment upon it.