GORAKHPUR, Jan. 7 -- The participation of vice-chancellor of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University (DDU), prof Poonam Tandon, in a programme to welcome UP BJP president, Pankaj Chaudhary, sparked a political controversy on Tuesday. Congress state vice-president Vishwajay Singh, and former SP MLA Vijay Bahadur Yadav criticised the vice-chancellor for attending a reception organised for the BJP state president. Speaking to a section of the media, Singh termed the VC's presence at the event "unfortunate" and questioned whether her participation reflected a political agenda aimed at the saffronisation of academic institutions. "A university belongs to everyone. It includes staff and students from all ideologies, castes, religions. As the head of such an institution, the vice-chancellor has a responsibility to remain impartial," Singh said. The event was held on Monday, during which Chaudhary offered floral tributes to the statue of Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya located on the university campus.htc...