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Chandrasekhar’s remarks came after Kamakoti, who was recently appointed to high-powered task force on examination reforms, became the target of criticism from the Congress.
Chandrasekhar praised Kamakoti’s contributions to higher education and India’s technology ecosystem, while launching a sharp attack on Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. (Photo: X/RajeevRC_X)
BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday came out in support of IIT-Madras Director V Kamakoti after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra referred to him as a “Gaumutra expert”, saying the academic is among India’s most accomplished technology educators and innovators.
The remarks came after Kamakoti, who was recently appointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-powered task force on examination reforms, became the target of criticism from the Congress.
In a post on X, Chandrasekhar praised Kamakoti’s contributions to higher education and India’s technology ecosystem, while launching a sharp attack on Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
Describing Kamakoti as a “real achiever”, Chandrasekhar said the IIT-Madras director had played a key role in building one of India’s most vibrant deep-tech startup and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
“At IIT Madras, he has encouraged and built a vibrant deep-tech startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem that has created ventures and jobs for Young India, comparable to the best in the world,” Chandrasekhar wrote.
He added that Kamakoti should be “celebrated” for his achievements and contrasted them with what he described as the lack of accomplishments of the Congress leadership.
“Young Indians should watch and learn and decide who they choose to respect and emulate. Choose those who study, work hard and make a real difference to students and the country’s future,” he said.
Former Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy V. Subramanian also criticised Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks, questioning what scientific or academic expertise qualified her to mock the IIT-Madras director’s research and public positions.
Subramanian argued that India’s scientists and scholars deserved evidence-based debate rather than ridicule.
“Have you actually read Prof. Kamakoti’s work before caricaturing him? If so, which part of his research do you disagree with, and on what evidence?” he asked in a post on X.
Drawing parallels with the origins of several modern medicines, Subramanian said scientific ideas should be assessed on evidence rather than dismissed because of their cultural or traditional roots.
“Science tests hypotheses; it doesn’t mock them because of where they originate,” he wrote, citing examples such as aspirin’s origins in willow bark and artemisinin’s roots in traditional Chinese medicine.
He further questioned whether Congress would apply the same standard of criticism to ideas associated with other faiths and traditions, arguing that India’s scholars deserved respectful and evidence-driven engagement.
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