'Science Congress deferment nothing to do with PM's visit'

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The Indian Science Congress' 105th Annual Session, scheduled to be held during January 3-7, 2018 has been postponed at the host, Osmania University's request and has nothing to do with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, official sources said on Saturday.

"Associating the postponement of the 105th Annual Session of the Indian Science Congress to the Prime Minister's visit as being done in some media reports is incorrect," an official source said.

"The postponement has no relation to the Prime Minister's visit to the event, for which all preparations from Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) side and PMO were being made as had been planned," said the source.

Modi was scheduled to inaugurate the Conference on January 3 at the Osmania University in Hyderabad.

On Thursday, the ISCA, in a brief statement, had said: "The Vice Chancellor of Osmania University has informed that they are not in a position to host 105th Indian Science Congress scheduled January 3-7 due to certain issues in the campus."

Over 2,000 scientists including 15 Noble laureates from different countries were expected to participate in the ISC.

The university officials did not specify the reason but the prevailing security situation due to recent protests apparently forced the authorities to postpone the prestigious event.

The campus witnessed violent protests by student groups over the suicide of a student earlier this month.

The Executive Committee of ISCA is scheduled to meet on December 27 to decide on the future course of action.

--IANS

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