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Indian University Suspends Student Group Accused of Spreading Hatred Toward Modi Indian University Suspends Student Group Accused of Spreading Hatred Toward Modi
(35 minutes later)
NEW DELHI — A branch of India’s most prestigious engineering university in the southern city of Chennai has suspended a left-wing student group that was accused of spreading hatred toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a university official said on Friday.NEW DELHI — A branch of India’s most prestigious engineering university in the southern city of Chennai has suspended a left-wing student group that was accused of spreading hatred toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a university official said on Friday.
In an email sent by the dean of students at the university, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and shared by the student group, the group was notified that the university had “derecognized” it for “misusing the privileges” of an independent student organization. In an email sent by the dean of students at the university, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and shared by the student group, the group was notified that the university had dissolved it for “misusing the privileges” of an independent student organization.
But K. Ramamurthy, the acting director of the university, said in comments to reporters on Friday that the group was only being suspended. But after the decision sparked an uproar on traditional and social media, K. Ramamurthy, the acting director of the university, told reporters on Friday that the group was only being suspended.
A letter signed simply by “students” at the university and addressed to the central government said the group, the Ambedkar-Periyar study circle, named after two Indian liberal intellectuals, had attempted to foment hatred toward Mr. Modi and Hindus.A letter signed simply by “students” at the university and addressed to the central government said the group, the Ambedkar-Periyar study circle, named after two Indian liberal intellectuals, had attempted to foment hatred toward Mr. Modi and Hindus.
Akhil Bharathan, a leader of Ambedkar-Periyar, said “right-wing forces” at the university were behind the move to disband the group.Akhil Bharathan, a leader of Ambedkar-Periyar, said “right-wing forces” at the university were behind the move to disband the group.
“They feel that with their government at the center, they can drown voices like ours,” he said.“They feel that with their government at the center, they can drown voices like ours,” he said.
The action came after the group organized an event in April criticizing the new government’s policies, including a law that would ease the acquisition of land for development and a controversial beef ban in Maharashtra State, which was seen as part of the Hindu nationalist agenda of Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.The action came after the group organized an event in April criticizing the new government’s policies, including a law that would ease the acquisition of land for development and a controversial beef ban in Maharashtra State, which was seen as part of the Hindu nationalist agenda of Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Modi government is “assisting the multinational corporates to loot Mother India,” the group wrote in a flier.The Modi government is “assisting the multinational corporates to loot Mother India,” the group wrote in a flier.
Students opposed to the group then wrote a letter to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, which oversees higher education in the country.Students opposed to the group then wrote a letter to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, which oversees higher education in the country.
“We believe that this group is politically motivated and getting funds and encouragement from some outside organization,” the students wrote.“We believe that this group is politically motivated and getting funds and encouragement from some outside organization,” the students wrote.
A ministry official responded with a letter to the university director on May 15 highlighting the “serious complaints” from students.A ministry official responded with a letter to the university director on May 15 highlighting the “serious complaints” from students.
The ministry issued a statement on Friday clarifying that the action against the group was taken by the university alone.The ministry issued a statement on Friday clarifying that the action against the group was taken by the university alone.
The dean of students was not immediately available for comment, but the university issued a statement on Friday saying that the study circle had violated the university’s guidelines by publicizing its activities using the name of the university without official permission. It will be under suspension while it presents its case to the board of students, the statement said.The dean of students was not immediately available for comment, but the university issued a statement on Friday saying that the study circle had violated the university’s guidelines by publicizing its activities using the name of the university without official permission. It will be under suspension while it presents its case to the board of students, the statement said.