Kauravas claims: Govt has no role in deciding ISC speakers, says principal scientific advisor
New Delhi, Jan 6: The principal scientific advisor to the government, K VijayRaghavan, has termed as "scientifically untenable" the Andhra University vice chancellor G Nageswara Rao's claims, made at the Indian Science Congress, that the Kauravas were test tube babies.
He also said the government has no role in deciding the speakers or the agenda of the event.
The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) does not have a filter and the government "rightly has no role in the matter", he said. "Once a speaker is chosen, there is no censorship on what the person actually speaks."
VijayRaghavan said the chancellor of the Andhra University should file a formal complaint against Vice Chancellor Rao.
"Scientists say what they say, and if they talk nonsense, they will feel the heat from the community. It is indeed unfortunate that a sitting Vice-Chancellor of a great state university, a biologist to boot, says something that is scientifically completely untenable," VijayRaghavan said in a blog.
On Friday, Rao in his presentation at the ISC in Jalandhar, had made several "preposterous" claims: Kauravas were test-tube babies, Dashavtar gave a better logic than the Darwin's Theory of Evolution, Ravan had 24 aircraft and several airports and Ram and Vishnu used guided missiles technology.
Another presenter sought to debunk Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
This was met with a volley of criticism from the scientific community.
"Someone, concerned and well-intentioned, asked, how one (presumably the government) could give a platform to such preposterous talks at the Science Congress. Well, the organisers rightly don't have a filter and the government rightly has no role in the matter," he said.
VijayRaghavan said the ISCA does get some support from the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
The ISCA raises funds for its activities, such as for the holding of the Congress, from other sources, he noted.
"Yet (like the Indian National Science Academy, for example) the ISCA decides the agenda, the venue and selects the speakers. The government has no role whatsoever in these matters.
"The Science Congress has an overall theme each year. There is a wide range of topics that are covered in the talks. A group of scientists, chosen by the ISCA, requests applications to speak and chooses speakers. Once chosen there is no censorship on what the person actually speaks," he said.
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West Asia conflict: Modi calls ministerial meeting to review energy situation
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting Sunday evening with senior ministers to review to take stock of petroleum, power, and fertiliser sectors in view of the evolving West Asia situation, sources have said.
The focus of the meeting is to ensure uninterrupted supply, stable logistics and efficient distribution across the country, and the government is taking proactive steps to this end, they said.
Continuous monitoring of global developments to protect consumer and industry interests is the key focus of the government, they said.
On March 12, Modi said that the war in West Asia has triggered a worldwide energy crisis, posing a critical test of national character that requires dealing with circumstances through peace, patience, and increased public awareness.
The prime minister emphasised that his government is working relentlessly to address disruptions that have emerged in international supply chains.
"Continuous efforts are also underway to determine how we can overcome the disruptions that have occurred in the supply chain," Modi said.
The prime minister has spoken to many global leaders since the West Asia conflict started on February 28, with the US and Israel attacking Iran.
Iran has retaliated by attacking Israel and several of its Gulf neighbours.
Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which 20 per cent of the world's energy is transported. Since the conflict, very few ships have been allowed by Iran to cross it.
The blockade has resulted in severe disruptions in energy supply to many countries, including India.
Since the conflict, Modi has had telephonic conversations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, France, Malaysia, Israel and Iran.
