Genevieve Athis

President
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 241 353
Mob: +44 (0) 7775 836 469
president@oxford-union.org

Tuesday 12th March 2019

Dear Mr Raghuvanshi,

I am writing to extend an invitation for you to speak at the Oxford Union in one of our historic debates this coming term. It would be a great privilege were you to accept this
invitation, and I sincerely hope you will be able to join us for the debate.

The Oxford Union was founded by a group of students in 1823 to protest against the University’s restrictive rules surrounding the discussion of religion and politics. At a
time when Catholics were still not allowed to graduate from Oxford and suffrage was restricted to a fraction of the overall population, the Union was one of the institutions at
the centre of Liberal Reform, with the great moderniser Prime Minister W. E. Gladstone one of our early Presidents. To this day, the Union remains a place where students
can make their voice heard by debating the issues of the day and seeking to challenge the dominant ideas of society.

Throughout our history, we have played host to world leaders in every field, from US Presidents Reagan, Nixon, and Carter, Sir Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein and
Malcolm X to Mother Teresa, Sir Elton John, the Dalai Lama, Michael Jackson, Malala Yousafzai, Buzz Aldrin, Gloria Steinem and many more. It would be an honour if
you were to join us in debate and continue this fine tradition.

We would be delighted, therefore, were you to speak on the motion:

This House Has No Confidence in Modi's Government

In 2014, Narendra Modi came into power on the promise of Acche Din, growth and eradicating corruption politics. Since then, the BJP-led government has implemented a
wide-range of policies to deliver these goals, which have attracted both the highest of praises and the harshest of criticisms. From growing concerns of intolerance amongst
minorities to reinvigorating India’s position on the global stage, Prime Minister Modi's tenure has been divisive.

For too long, debates at the Oxford Union have approached India through a predominantly colonial lens, particularly focusing on its relationship with the United Kingdom.
As the world’s largest democracy heads into a momentous general election, the Union has a timely opportunity to consider India’s government in its own right. The Oxford
Union has now hosted its annual iconic debate of No Confidence in Her Majesty’s Government for decades. At its core this debate reflects the Union’s unique position, as a
bastion of independent political thought, to hold power accountable and to freely challenge the government of the day. The time has come to assess whether or not the Modi
government has failed its people.

As is tradition, the debate will be held on a Thursday evening, though there are currently a number of possible dates: 2nd May, 9th May or the 16th May 2019.

The Union offers a unique combination of tradition and prestige, with our student members constituting an engaged and enthusiastic audience. Almost all of our debates have
been uploaded to the Oxford Union YouTube channel, but of course, the level of media attention would be entirely up to your discretion.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any wish to discuss this invitation further.

Yours sincerely,

Genevieve Athis
President

The Oxford Union, Frewin Court, Oxford, OX1 3JB, Great Britain
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 241 353 Web: www.oxford-union.org