New Delhi, 13 August (H.S.):

More than 14,100 members of the academic and scientific community have signed a petition addressed to the Lok Sabha Speaker, objecting to remarks made by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the Lok Sabha concerning IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti. The petition urges the Speaker to take cognisance of the remarks and request the Congress MP to withdraw them and express regret.

The petition was submitted by Prof. Rajeev Singh on August 5, 2026, as a representative of the ‘Science and Academic Community’. It states that the appeal received support within a short period from a large number of academics, scientists and researchers, including serving and former vice-chancellors, directors of institutions, professors, scientists, researchers, teachers and education experts.

According to the petition, during a discussion in the Lok Sabha on examination reforms, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra referred to IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti as a “cow urine expert”. The petitioners described the remark as a personal and derogatory comment directed at a distinguished scientist and the head of one of the country’s premier institutions of higher education.

The petition also highlights Prof. Kamakoti’s scientific and academic contributions, particularly in areas including computer science, cybersecurity and national education. The petitioners said that personal remarks of this nature against the head of an academic institution do not affect only the individual concerned but can also have an adverse impact on the morale of the wider scientific and academic community.

Describing the petition as non-political, the signatories said their objective was neither to restrict democratic debate nor to prevent criticism of government policies. They maintained that Parliament should remain a forum for robust debate on policies, appointments and institutional decisions, but disagreements should be expressed through reasoned arguments rather than personal remarks or ridicule.

The petition makes two principal requests to the Lok Sabha Speaker. First, it seeks cognisance of the concerns raised by members of the academic community. Second, it requests that the MP concerned be asked to withdraw the remarks and express regret over the statement.

The petitioners said it was important for the Speaker to send a clear message on maintaining high standards of parliamentary language and decorum. According to them, such a step would reinforce respect for scientists, teachers and researchers while also upholding the dignity of Parliament and institutions of higher education.

The letter further stated that the support of more than 14,100 people demonstrates the seriousness with which the academic and scientific community views the use of respectful language in public life and the need to preserve the dignity of institutions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar