IIT Madras bans students' group for criticising Modi
Reports said the step has been taken at the instruction of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry.
The Ambedkar Periyar Student Circle at IIT-Madras was banned from holding the event after the HRD Ministry received an 'anonymous' complaint against the event.
In a letter to the IIT-Madras director on May 15, the Union Human Resource Development Ministry stated that "anonymous letter alleging serious complaints received from students."
What was enclosed as "evidence" was a pamphlet of the study circle highlighting a speech by academician R Vivekananda Gopal criticising the Modi government.
It is has been alleged that the forum tried to mobilise students from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes against Modi government's policies propagating Hindi and banning cow slaughter.
The anonymous letter to the government, signed "Students, IIT Madras" alleged that the Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle is "creating hatred among students in the name of caste" and also trying to "create hatred against the honourable Prime Minister and Hindus."
Denying the allegation of inciting protests the students' group says it was never given a chance to respond.
"We have not violated the Constitution. The Constitution allows us to criticize the government and its policies. But the IIT administration is trying to stifle democratic forces," media reports quoted a member of the study circle as saying.
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