File photo of Ms Nita Ambani
Lucknow/ Varanasi: Students of the prestigious Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi ave protested against a proposal to appoint Reliance Industries Executive Director Nita Ambani as a visiting professor at the university.
Around 40 students took out a demonstration outside the house of BHU Vice Chancellor Rakesh Bhatnagar on Tuesday.
Reliance Industries Limited, however, denied the report saying that no such invitation was received by the 57 year-old Ms Ambani.
As per local media, the said proposal to make Ms Ambani a visiting professor was made last Friday at the BHU's Centre for Women's Studies and Development.
Officials also said that neither Nita Ambani or Reliance had anything to do with the proposal, and it was only at the internal proposal stage.
According a video about the matter, a professor - sent to meet the protesting students - was seen clarifying to the students that a proposal was only mooted and did not involve Ms Ambani at that stage.
The idea, sources say, is to have influential women leaders like Ms Ambani interact with students, especially women, at the university. Ms Nita Ambani is executive director, Reliance Industries.
Reliance Industries Limited spokesperson said in response to the reports told news agency ANI: "Reports that Nita Ambani will be a visiting lecturer at Banaras Hindu University are fake. She hasn't received an invitation."
In an interview to news agency PTI, Nidhi Sharma, coordinator of the committee, said the proposal to make Nita Ambani a visiting professor has been sent to the authorities.
"Nita Ambani is a woman entrepreneur. If she joins our centre, the women of Purvanchal will get the benefit of her experience," Ms Sharma was quoted as saying by PTI.
However, the idea has met with stiff opposition by the students. Shubham Tiwari, one of the students involved in Tuesday's protest, told PTI that instead of Ms Ambani, those who have set an example of women empowerment should be invited.
(With agency inputs)