Thankful for ironical certification: Kanhaiya on JNU’s top ranking

Students leaders in JNU, which today featured in the list of top ranking institutions in the country by the Centre, said it was “ironical” that the varsity was being recognised for its “autonomy”.

Students leaders in JNU, which today featured in the list of top ranking institutions in the country by the Centre, said it was “ironical” that the varsity was being recognised for its “autonomy”.

Students leaders in JNU, which today featured in the list of top ranking institutions in the country by the Centre, said the certification was “ironical”. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT File Photo)

“This hasn’t come as a surprise to us because JNU has always been ranked among top institutions. What is ironical is that the university has been awarded the top ranking for its autonomy by the ministry which has been trying to attack us for months.”

“We are thankful to the minister for this ironical certification. It will satisfy many who are concerned about taxpayers’ money being wasted by JNU students,” JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar said.

Kumar, who is out on bail in a sedition case and has been critical of HRD Minister Smriti Irani in all his speeches, said, “When it comes to social sciences, the JNU has always been ranked the best. It is also noteworthy that what are the variables based on which the universities have been ranked”.

JNU and Hyderabad universities, which have been at the centre of controversies recently, topped the list of central varsities while IIT-Madras and IIM-Bangalore led among technology and management institutions.