Headlines
Protests over derecognition of IIT-Madras student body for criticising Modi
Chennai, May 30
Different organisations
protested here on Saturday against the de-recognition of the Ambedkar
Periyar Study Circle (APSC) student's association by IIT-Madras.
The
Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) said the APSC was
de-recognised as it was provoking protests against the central
government policies and creating hatred against Hindus and Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
Political parties like DMK, MDMK, VCK,
CPI(M), CPI, Congress and others have condemned the IIT-M's move calling
it against freedom of expression and demanded the recognition be
restored.
On the other hand, BJP leader and union minister Pon
Radhakrishnan supported IIT-M and said it actec so that the students
could be guided on the right path.
According to BJP secretary H.
Raja, the comments made by members of APSC were anti-national and the
student body should have been derecognised several months back.
Members belonging to Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) held demonstration outside IIT-M in support of the institution's action.
Members
of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Revolutionary
Students Federation (RSF) too protested outside IIT-M against its
decision to derecognise APSC.
Police have taken into custody
several people, including women and female students for demonstrating on
the roads and affecting the free flow of traffic.
Members of
Congress party staged protest outside Shastri Bhavan that houses several
central government offices. Large number of police personnel were
deployed at IIT-M and Shastri Bhavan to prevent any untoward incident.
According
to IIT-M, the institution does not curtail free speech or expression
but it expects student groups to adhere to guidelines like not using the
institution's name or its official entities to publicise their
activities or garner support.
However, the APSC had violated the guidelines, IIT-M said.