Xavier's Principal under fire for note against 'Gujarat Model'

"He did not contact BJP to get our side of the view," he said.

"We demand immediate withdrawal of the statement, immediate investigation and appropriate action for violation of poll Model Code," he said.

Father Mascarenhas, however, got the backing of leaders of Congress, NCP and the National Conference who said he is free to express his views.

"He (Father) has every right under the Constitution to express his views," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.

"If religious leaders, yoga teachers, media personalities and business tycoons can express an opinion why not college principals," asked Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah.

"In the world's biggest democracy, every citizen has been given a right to express his opinion. Those opposing his note are anti-democratic," state NCP's working president Jitendra Awhad said here.

"The BJP's reaction to the principal's note shows that the party and its workers are out to finish those who oppose them," he said.

Author Chetan Bhagat also waded into the row and tweeted, "I think people have the right to give their political views, even the Xavier's principal. However, students can think for themselves."

At a news conference in Delhi, BJP Spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, "If it is the democratic right of an individual, then there is no question at all. But here is someone who is writing as the head of an institution, particularly an educational institution, then normally the institution does not play politics."

She said, "If the principal indeed was interested in discussing the models of growth, comparing A state with B state, then certainly as part of economics he is welcome to do so. But he doesn't sit on judgement as to which is preferable and which is not."