Twitter erupts with #RamdevJNUBan after yoga guru skips convention

After yoga guru Ramdev’s ‘inability’ to visit Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where he was invited to give the keynote address, micro blogging site Twittter erupted with #RamdevJNUBan trending almost immediately.

After yoga guru Ramdev’s ‘inability’ to visit Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where he was invited to give the keynote address, micro blogging site Twittter erupted with #RamdevJNUBan trending almost immediately. The invitation extended to Ramdev had led to widespread protests by JNU students who said that he didn’t have the required credentials for a keynote speaker.

Yoga guru Ramdev has expressed inability in visiting Jawaharlal Nehru University where he was invited to give a keynote address amid protests from a group of students. (File Photo)

JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) vice president Shehla Rashid earlier said in a statement: “It does not befit the stature of an academic institution like JNU to have persons with such a questionable and shameful background to address an academic gathering.”

The organisers of the convention — 22nd International Congress of Vedanta — also confirmed the cancellation but refuted claims made by students that the University had withdrawn the invitation with the clarification that the yoga guru expressed his inability to attend. He nevertheless assured he would visit JNU sometime later.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy added to the Twitter debate when he said that the centrally funded university could not block the yoga guru based on “fascist and stupid arguments”.

Discussions on social media also divided the argument between the leftist ideology of JNU and those rejoicing the students’ ‘victory’.