Modi government 'hell-bent' on killing scientific research in country, alleges Congress

Modi government is hell-bent to kill scientific research, Congress president Mallkarjun Kharge said alleging scientists at top research institutions having not received funds for this financial year

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday (July 13) hit out at the Centre over scientists at top research institutions having not received funds for this financial year, alleging that the Modi government is "hell-bent" on killing scientific research in the country.

His attack came over a media report which claimed that scientists at top research institutions who ought to have received funds from central agencies for this financial year in April were still waiting.

"Modi Govt is hell-bent to kill scientific research in the country, thus hampering a nation's progress," Mr. Kharge said in a tweet.

Scientists at top research institutions are yet to receive funds for this financial year and are forced to use their hard-earned savings to continue research, he said.

"At a time when government has promised more funding by setting up a National Research Foundation (NRF), their purchases are on hold and project staff have not been paid for three months. Private funding is welcome, but the Government funding should not stop," the Congress president said.

Budget 2023 slashed the funds for scientific research by 6.87%, he said.

"In 2017, the scientific community was forced to stage nationwide protests in 27 cities to register their concerns about paltry funding, fund cuts and pseudo-science propagated by the Modi Government," he said.