Firoz Khan Will Remain Part Of BHU’s Sanskrit Department, Language Belongs To Everyone: HRD Minister

Pokhriyal said that Firoz Khan is in the university’s Sanskrit department and will continue to teach that language.

Varanasi: Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Sanskrit professor Feroze Khan, who resigned from the Sahitya (literature) department of Sanskrit Vidya Dharm Vigyan (SVDV) and joined the Arts and Ayurveda departments, in Varanasi, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Sanskrit professor Firoz Khan will continue to teach in Banaras Hindu University in the same department, Human Resource Development Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” said in the Parliament, seeking to put an end to the controversy over his appointment. Pokhriyal said that Firoz Khan is in the university’s  Sanskrit department and will continue to teach that language. Participating in a debate on the Sanskrit Universities Bill, Danish Ali (BSP) referred to Benaras Hindu University assistant professor Khan, who was facing protests after being appointed to the post in the Sanskrit department of the varsity. Intervening in the debate, Pokhriyal said "Firoz Khan is in the Sanskrit department, and will remain there." He also said the assistant professor will continue to teach Sanskrit. "Sanskrit is everybody's language," the minister said. Amid protests, Khan had reportedly joined joined Arts faculty of the varsity on Tuesday. There was a protest by students in BHU over Khan's appointment in the faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan (SVDV). Khan resigned from his post at SVDV and joined the Arts Faculty of the University after which the sit-in protest ended.