This story is from May 30, 2015

Protest outside IIT-Madras campus over ban on student body

The institute had derecognized the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle over an anonymous complaint to the central govt that it was trying to spread hatred towards PM Modi's policies
Protest outside IIT-Madras campus over ban on student body
CHENNAI: The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) on Saturday staged a protest against the ban of a student's group outside the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras campus. The protesters chanted slogans before being detained by the police.
The agitating members raised slogans against the Modi-led Union government and HRD minister Smriti Irani even as they were whisked away by the policemen.
They also had a heated exchange of words with the police and raised slogans against the management of IIT-M and sought action against it for derecognizing Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle recently.

A DYFI volunteer said the "agenda of RSS" will not be allowed in Tamil Nadu.
Security has been beefed up around IIT-M in anticipation of more protests, police said.
On Friday, the Union HRD ministry distanced itself from the decision by IIT-Madras to temporarily derecognize a study group even as the matter snowballed into a political controversy, with Rahul Gandhi linking it to an assault on free speech and Congress's student wing NSUI protesting outside Smriti Irani's residence, prompting a sharp retort from the minister.

READ ALSO: IIT-Madras's ban on student group snowballs into political row
Sources said even the Prime Minister's Office had sought a report on the matter.
The ministry said the action against the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle (APSC) for spreading "hatred" against PM Narendra Modi was taken by IIT-Madras "as per their own procedures and guidelines".
Education secretary Satya N Mohanty told TOI, "The ministry has no role in the decision. We had received an anonymous complaint which was forwarded to IIT-Madras for comments. The ministry did not give any instruction. In fact, we are yet to receive the institute's comments." IITs were autonomous institutions and the ministry did not interfere in their functioning, he added.
READ ALSO: IIT-Madras bans student group for criticising PM Modi, his policies
On Friday, IIT Madras had justified its decision to derecognize the group, clarifying that the body was merely temporarily derecognized for violating the guidelines of the institute.
The institute had earlier de-recognized the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle over an anonymous complaint to the central government that it was trying to spread hatred towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies by distributing provocative pamphlets and posters in the campus, igniting a massive controversy.
The acting director of the institute, Professor K Ramamurthy, said the group had not been working according to the guidelines issued by the represented body. Ramamurthy also added that the dean of the institute has asked the students to present their stand.

Meanwhile, DMK and MDMK expressed "shock" over the "intolerance" shown by the authorities of IIT-M, and expressed concern over "threats" to freedom of expression.
"This stand to curb freedom of expression taken by the institution and the Union government is most disheartening. This incident displays a clear unwarranted interference of the Union government in the running of an educational institution," DMK treasurer M K Stalin said in a statement.
Young minds should be allowed to engage in societal dialogue constructively and dissent should not be stifled, he said, adding, "Such regressive and repressive actions will lead to unrest and rebellion among youth."
"I urge the Union government to respect the freedom of speech and expression of the citizens and be open to criticism and dissent," he added.

(Inputs from PTI)
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