In a recent and unexpected turn of events, Laxmidhar Behera, the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, has come under scrutiny and faced criticism for making controversial remarks linking landslides and cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh to meat consumption. Behera’s comments were made during an address to students, where he urged them to take a pledge not to consume meat as a means of mitigating the environmental impact.
The statement from the IIT Mandi Director has since gone viral on social media platforms, eliciting a barrage of reactions from the public. In the video, Behera states, “Himachal Pradesh will have a significant downfall…if we do not stop butchering animals. You are butchering animals there… the innocent animals. It has a symbiotic relationship with the degradation of the environment as well… which you cannot see right now but is there.”
He goes on to assert that landslides, cloudbursts, and other natural calamities are the consequences of cruelty toward animals and the consumption of meat, concluding with an appeal to the students to pledge to abstain from eating meat.
However, there has been no official response from Laxmidhar Behera regarding the controversy generated by his remarks. The comments have garnered significant criticism from netizens and various quarters of society, with many expressing disbelief and skepticism regarding the unusual correlation drawn by the IIT Mandi Director.
One individual, Sandeep Manudhane, an entrepreneur and alumnus of IIT Delhi, commented on social media, saying, “The collapse is complete. These superstitious fools will destroy whatever little was built in 70 years.”
Gautam Menon, a professor of biophysics, expressed his dismay, stating, “In the current dispensation, having views like those of the director of IIT Mandi featured here is a feature, not a bug. It’s simply sad.”
This is not the first instance of Laxmidhar Behera making controversial comments. Last year, he made headlines for claiming involvement in an exorcism to rid a friend’s apartment and family of “evil spirits” through the chanting of “holy mantras.”
The remarks from the IIT Mandi Director have raised questions about the appropriateness of such statements, particularly from an academic and administrative authority figure. They also highlight the importance of scientific reasoning and evidence-based discussions, especially in matters related to environmental concerns and natural disasters.
Sources By Agencies
