Bharathidasan
I had shared documents, excluding certain sensitive and confidential documents, in the public forum,” he said. “I am specifically being targeted by you, using all your power to oppress me,” he said, directly addressing Vanni Arasu. Very good, sir,” he said. Bharathidasan said he was the first person from his family and village to pursue medical research and appealed to the minister not to make it difficult for him to continue his studies. So, I will look for alternative sources and some other institutions in India or elsewhere to continue my studies,” he said.
CHENNAI: Bharathidasan Raman, a research scholar pursuing a PhD at the National University of Malaysia under the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship, has accused Tamil Nadu social justice minister Vanni Arasu and department officials of harassing him and questioning his credibility over his demand for funds for his second year of research. He claimed that he faced the threat of being removed from the university over unpaid fees. “In the month of April, I raised the issue of non-release of funds for my second year of research. The issue was flagged in the state assembly, but minister Vanni Arasu denied it. Bharathidasan alleged that instead of resolving the issue, the social justice minister and officials had questioned the details of the research materials he had sought funds to purchase. I shared my project and title details too. Now, you have sent a mail, starting the issue from the beginning by questioning whether I purchased the items and materials that I had listed in my mail for my research purposes. But your response has spoiled my research, credibility and also damaged my professors’ trust in me. “If you want to convey that I should not pursue research, please let me know. I request you not to inflict mental torture on me. If you are unable to extend financial support, please let me know.
“I had even mentioned my earlier email and given my ethics code. In a video message released on Thursday, Bharathidasan, a native of Madurai, said the non-release of funds had stalled his research for the past six months and prevented him from attending a programme at AIIMS in October to present his research paper.