JNU to rename central library as BR Ambedkar Library

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Tuesday gave a go ahead to the renaming of the varsity's central library as B R Ambedkar Library following demands from BJP's student wing ABVP.

The ABVP which is locked in an ideological battle with the Left-backed groups on campus had in April also demanded a statue of the architect of Indian Constitution be installed there. The varsity's library committee approved the proposal which was placed on Tuesday before the Executive Council, the statutory decision making body of the university.

"The proposal was placed before the council today and was approved unanimously to rename the central library as B R Ambedkar Library," an EC member said.

The Left-groups active on campus had termed the ABVP's demands "ironic" alleging that "it's weird on one hand the government is terrorising students who pursue Ambedkarite politics, while its student wing on the other hand is hell bent upon appropriating Ambedkar".

The ABVP had also written to President Pranab Mukherjee and HRD Ministry demanding the renaming of the library after Ambedkar, the convention centre after APJ Abdul Kalam and the stadium ground after the freedom fighter Birsa Munda. However, the EC members claimed no proposals about the convention centre and the stadium ground were placed before it on Tuesday.