Varanasi, November 27: After a section of students protested his appointment as a faculty member of the Sanskrit department at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), reports emerged that Feroz Khan was preparing to appear for an interview to teach Ayurveda at the varsity. However, Feroz Khan denied these reports. "I had applied way back in May for three separate departments. These were BHU’s Ayurveda department, Sanskrit department at the Arts faculty as well as the department of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan. I have made no such applications in the light of the ongoing protests. This report is wrong," he was quoted as saying. 'RSS Murdabad' Slogan Raised at BHU Days After Sangh Backs Muslim Professor Feroz Khan's Appointment in Sanskrit Department.

Students of the Sanskrit Vidya Dharm Vigyan (SVDV) department have been protesting against Khan's appointment, arguing that a professor, who is not Hindu by faith cannot teach them Sanskrit. On November 22, Samskrita Bharati, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), backed assistant professor Khan even as members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) continued their protest against his appointment. Samiksha Bharti, in its statement, requested Khan to "fearlessly make his contributions at the university". BHU Vice-Chancellor Backs Feroz Khan, The Muslim Professor Appointed For Teaching Sanskrit, Despite ABVP Protest.

The BHU authorities have also come out in support of Khan, saying they do not discriminate on the grounds of caste, class, gender and religion. Vice-Chancellor Rakesh Bhatnagar, who was part of the three-member selection panel which appointed Khan, has backed his candidature. A group of saints in Varanasi have also condemned the protests against Khan and said that the professor and his family have been running a cow shelter and have deep faith in the Hindu culture.

According to a report, Khan's father Ramzan Khan a.k.a Munna Master is a 'Gau Sevak' who runs a cow shelter in Bagru, about 35 kilometres from Jaipur in Rajasthan. The family follows the 'Sanatan dharma' way of life and is a firm believer in astrology.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 27, 2019 09:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).