AAP, Congress question Chauhan’s appointment as NIFT chairperson

The Congress, on the other hand, slammed the government saying that it wanted to convert NIFT into National Institute of Cricket Technology.The AAP accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government of harming the reputation of the premier institutes/institutions by appointing “non-deserving candidates” to top posts.

 “The Modi government is trying to make absurd appointments in premier institutes/institutions. Chetan Chauhan’s appointment as the new chairperson of NIFT proves it,” AAP leader Raghav Chadha said.

Chauhan was rewarded with the post for shielding Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Delhi and District Cricket Association controversy, he said. Chadha said the former cricketer had nothing to do with fashion and claimed his appointment was done “illegally”.

The AAP also mocked the government, wondering whether author Chetan Bhagat would be made the next RBI Governor, actor Anupam Kher the ISRO chief and former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse the NIA chief.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal questioned the appointment of Chauhan, who is also the vice-president of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), accusing the Modi government for naming a “sycophant” in prestigious institutions.

“Modiji has selectively assembled an army of sycophants — Gajendra Chauhan, Chetan Chauhan, Pahlaj Nihalani, Smriti Irani,” Kejriwal tweeted. He also named a media person in the tweet.

As per the NIFT Act 2006, the Chairperson of the Institute’s Board of Governors shall be an eminent academician, scientist or technologist or professional who is to be nominated by the Visitor, in this case the President of India.

The Congress on Saturday said in a statement: “Chetan Chauhan has lot of experience in DDCA which faced multiple inquiries; maybe government thought all that experience will be useful in running NIFT.”

Chauhan’s appointment comes after similar appointments have landed the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre in controversy. Starting from Gajendra Chauhan, who was appointed as the chairman for FTII which led to massive protests by students, to appointing actor Mukesh Khanna as the chairperson of Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI).