In view of a raging controversy over his citizenship, world chess champion Vishwanathan Anand declined to receive doctorate of the Hyderabad Central University in view of raging controversy over his citizenship.
Taking serious exception to the Union ministry questioning his citizenship, Viswanathan Anand refused to receive the honour as mark of protest.
On receipt of the information, the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Kapil Sibal, spoke to Anand and reportedly urged him to accept the award saying that he would take action against those who raised objections to the proposal.
It may be mentioned here that a controversy was raging over the citizenship of Anand and several people sent letters pleading it to cancel the Indian citizenship on the chess grand master. Consequently, the HRD officials raised objections over the move to confer honorary doctorate to him without settling the citizenship issue.
Meanwhile, The University of Hyderabad is embarrassed over the HRD withholding clearance to its proposal to confer an honorary doctorate, has apologised to the grandmaster.
The university, which was planning to confer the honour on Anand along with renowned mathematician David Mumford of Harvard University Monday, had to cancel the programme.The university is now looking for a convenient date to honour Anand.