Protest outside IIT Madras against ban on students forum
Shouting slogans and holding placards against IIT Madras dean, the students claimed that the banned group was only trying to create awareness.
Dozens of students belonging to Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held a protest outside IIT Madras on Saturday in support of the students forum which was banned for allegedly trying to spread hatred against Prime Minister Modi. Police used force against the protesting students and also arrested a few of them.
Shouting slogans and holding placards against IIT Madras dean, the students claimed that the banned group was only trying to create awareness.
The issue has now turned into a political one with the Congress blaming Human Resource Minister minister Smriti Irani of trying to disturb working of independent bodies like IIT.
"It was controversy which was not needed. The Constitution of the country allows people of the country to agitate against decisions which are arbitrary," Congress leader Priyanka Chaturvedi told India Today TV.
"The HRD minister should be concentrating on her job rather than instigating people to ban such students organisation. This is a very dangerous trend," Chaturvedi added.
"This should not be seen as an interference by the HRD ministry. The ministry had only forwarded a letter to IIT. The government does not intent to disturb working of an autonomous body like IIT," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.
The IIT-Madras administration has banned Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, a group of nearly 20 students at the premier institution, after an "anonymous complaint" against them was sent to the central government. The students were denied the use of IIT auditorium, their email services or the institute notice board.
"As per the guidelines in force, student bodies cannot use the name of IIT Madras or its official entities in any capacity to publicise their activities or garner support without official permission," Acting Director Professor K Ramamurthy had told reporters in Chennai.