New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS): The Congress Friday said economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen was a "national treasure" and the government must refrain from politicising the issue of extending his term as chancellor of Nalanda University.

"Amartya Sen is an asset to our country. His work in the field of economics, food security, education is a good contribution to the country. There is no reason why they (the government) should not extend his term. I hope they have a change of heart and not politicise this issue," party spokesperson Ajoy Kumar told the media here.

Sen, a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, Thursday brought to light the delay by the government in clearing his name for for a second term.

In a letter to the university's governing board that had unanimously recommended his name for an extension, Sen "excluded" himself from continuing in the role after his term ends in July.

Mincing no words, Sen observed that academics in the country remains "deeply vulnerable to the opinions of the ruling government".