NIT-Calicut dean row: Why are Congress, Left parties protesting against Shaija Andavan’s appointment?

The appointment of an NIT-Calicut professor as a dean has snowballed into a major controversy, with Congress slamming the Narendra Modi government for the decision.

She has been appointed as the Dean of the Planning and Development Department, with effect from March 7. As per the order from the Director of the National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NIT), the appointment is initially for two years, until further notice. She has been instructed to work alongside the current Dean, Priya Chandran, until March 7 to facilitate a "smooth changeover".

Why has Shaija’s appointment as an NIT-Calicut dean stirred up a row?

A police case is pending against Shaija (under Section 153 of the IPC (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riots)) for allegedly praising Nathuram Godse on Mahatma Gandhi's Martyr's Day, while commenting on a Facebook post shared by a right -wing advocate. She had allegedly expressed "pride" in Godse for assassinating Gandhi and thus "saving India".

In February last year, Kunnamangalam police questioned Shaija at her residence in Chathamangalam following complaints from DYFI – the youth wing of the CPI(M) – SFI, and the Youth Congress over her Facebook comment. Kunnamangalam court granted her anticipatory bail.

DYFI has announced a march to NIT to protest against Shaija's appointment as dean.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh termed her appointment “part of the Modi mindset - Appropriate Gandhi, Glorify Godse”. He elaborated further, saying that a former judge of the Calcutta High Court "could not choose between Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse" and is now a BJP MP.

Pawan Khera, AICC media and publicity department chairman, and Congress Lok Sabha MP K.C. Venugopal, too, took to X to express their reservations against the appointment.