Modi govt renames Kerala’s Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology after late RSS ideologue Golwalkar

In a clear attempt to saffronise the government-run institute, the Modi government has decided to rename the second campus of Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) in Kerala after late RSS ideologue M S Golwalkar.

The campus is ready for dedication to the nation.

Addressing a curtain raiser session of the sixth edition of India International Science Festival (IISF) scheduled organized by RGCB, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan announced, “I am happy to understand that this research facility will be named as Shri Guruji Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar National Centre for Complex Disease in Cancer and Viral Infection”.

Harsh Vardhan also said the campus will strive to begin a state-of-the art “Advanced Centre for Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics” that will offer cutting edge technologies, therapies, clinical trials for cancer vaccines and immunotherapeutic.

“It will also have facilities for therapies such as stem cell replacement, gene therapy, molecular tumor, targeting and imaging,” he said.

Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor slammed BJP’s bid to rename the RGCB after Golwalkar.

“So the 2nd campus of Thiruvananthapuram's RGCB is to be named 'Shri Guruji Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar National Centre for Complex Disease in Cancer and Viral Infection!' What is MSG's contribution to science other than promoting the disease of communalism?” Tharoor said.

Calling it “scandalous”, several other people also asked the Central government to reconsider the decision.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijyan wrote a letter urging the Centre to reconsider the decision.