If freedom of expression is not guaranteed, and if the trust is under pressure from so-called student leaders of Gujarat University, then what is the use of a democratic set-up?” Shah told The Telegraph. Defending the decision to invite a politician like Mevani, he said senior BJP leaders, including Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat chief minister, had addressed students at the college’s events. Shah said the trustees had met and requested him to reconsider his resignation, and he had “agreed to think about it”. The trustees, who include Padma Shri awardees such as architect B.V. Doshi — the Gujarat Vidyasabha president — and author Kumarpal Desai, could not be reached for comment. In a tweet, Mevani accused the trustees of “not standing up against the hooliganism of the BJP and its student wing”.

Source: The Telegraph February 11, 2019 22:07 UTC