Ex-diplomat issues ‘unconditional apology’ for controversial remarks

Retired diplomat Deepak Vohra issued an apology for his controversial remarks during a lecture at Lady Shri Ram College (LSR).

In a message addressed to Principal Kanika Ahuja, he wrote, “Dear Principal Ahuja, I am truly sorry for any remarks during my interaction with your students and staff that upset them — sincere unconditional apologies. Stay safe, stay blessed. Vande Mataram! Ambassador Dr Deepak Vohra, Special Advisor in Africa, Made in Bharat for the world.”

Though he declined further comments, he confirmed to The Tribune that he has written this apology message. “My unconditional apologies,” he said.

The apology comes after the LSR Students’ Union condemned Deepak Vohra’s remarks in strong terms. The union said, “The Students’ Union of Lady Shri Ram College expresses its unequivocal condemnation of the remarks made during the recent speaker session by Deepak Vohra.”

It added that what was meant to be a platform “to reflect on India’s future and engage with themes of national growth, policy and diplomacy” was instead “marked by comments that were not only divisive but also misogynistic, derogatory, Islamophobic, queerphobic and offensive in nature.”

The statement further criticised Deepak Vohra’s response to the principal’s comment, saying, “His remark about wishing to be reborn as a man, when called out for a dismissive response to the Principal’s suggestion of being reborn as a woman to study at LSR, revealed a mindset that reflects a deeply ingrained misogyny.”

The union demanded “a public apology from him for the remarks made during the session, which perpetuated misogyny and fostered an atmosphere of hate within the community.”

The union also acknowledged shortcomings in the background check and said it “remains committed to being accessible and accountable” and “exercises due diligence in shaping platforms of dialogue within our college community.”

Earlier, the LSR Alumni Association, ELSA, issued a petition condemning the event.

Aanya Wig, an ex-executive committee member of LSR Alumni Association, told The Tribune, “The talk by Deepak Vohra at the college and the action later by the alumni and students goes on to show that no one (should) or will be allowed to use LSR as a platform to spread misogyny, racism or attack a specific religion.”

“If he truly is apologetic for what he said on the campus, he should make a statement as public as his speech. I condemn what he said, not just as an alumna of the college but as a woman in this country,” she added.

Gayatri Srivastava, an alumna from the 1996 batch, told The Tribune, “During our time, Dr Meenakshi Gopinath was the Principal and such a situation would have been unthinkable.”

Notably, Deepak Vohra had earlier told the media that he had no idea why his lecture prompted this kind of reaction.

The controversy began on September 11 when Deepak Vohra, a former ambassador to Armenia, Poland and Sudan, addressed over 700 students at LSR during a session titled “Unstoppable India 2047.”

Students alleged that his remarks were sexist, casteist, misogynistic and communal. The event, organised by the BA Programme Department, was intended to engage students on national issues but instead triggered protests.