Surat-based Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) has issued a clarification following public outrage on social media over alleged Hinduphobic remarks made by professor Madhusudan Raj. Several users on X shared screenshots of his past tweets and called for action against him, tagging the Gujarat Police in their posts.
https://twitter.com/MadhusudanRaj/status/1969517810096161183
One tweet that drew particular criticism involved a Hanuman statue in Texas. Responding to an American user who suggested removing the statue in connection with increased H1B visa fees, Raj had retweeted the post with the comment “Smash it.” Many social media users interpreted this as an attack on Hindu sentiments and accused him of promoting hatred.
In response, VNSGU clarified that although Raj was previously associated with the university, he has not been employed there since 2021.
The controversy began after a resurfaced tweet from an American user stated, “Now that we are kicking out all of the H1B Indians, it shouldn’t be too hard to get the government to take down this Hindu demon monkey statue in Fort Bend County, Texas.” In response, Professor Madhusudan Raj had endorsed the sentiment by retweeting it with the remark, “Smash it,” which sparked widespread outrage.
Following the backlash, many social media users began tagging Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, alleging that Madhusudan Raj was currently serving as an Assistant Professor there. Addressing the concerns, the university’s Human Resources department issued a clarification, stating that while Raj was once part of the faculty, he had resigned in 2021. The university confirmed that he has had no association with VNSGU since then.
University officials added that the matter is currently under review and a detailed statement will be issued soon. They emphasised that VNSGU is not connected to Madhusudan Raj’s personal views or his current activities in any way. According to reports, Raj is now living abroad. His profile on X describes him as a “Born again Christian.”
https://twitter.com/MadhusudanRaj/status/1969624302744998349
The controversy has escalated further as this is not the first time Madhusudan Raj’s posts have sparked outrage. In the past, he has made several controversial remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hindus, and Gujaratis. In some of his earlier posts, he referred to PM Modi as a “clown” and likened India’s governance under him to a dictatorship. He also mocked religious practices, temples, and expressions of faith, comments that many online users found deeply offensive.
In light of the repeated nature of such posts, VNSGU has stated that legal options are being explored. However, the university reiterated that Raj is no longer affiliated with the institution.
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