Resignations of fellows of Uni Melbourne’s Australia-India Institute have nothing to do with the Indian Government, says the Indian Government.

Researchers from a range of Australian universities expressed unhappiness with the Indian Government’s interest in the Institute and Uni Melbourne’s response back in 2020. Disquiet continues, with talk of 12-16 resignations (CMM April 5).

It came up on Thursday at a media briefing by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Spokesperson Shri Arindam Bagchi pointed out that the Institute is funded by Australian governments and Uni Melbourne and academic freedom there is nothing to do with India. “The University of Melbourne has and in fact, the officials of the Institute also have made their position clear on this. I don’t have anything to add on that,” he said.

Perhaps Institute CEO Lisa Singh addressed the issue on her working visit to India last week.