IIT Madras bans student group for being critical of Modi govt

Group slams allegations, says they were denied a hearing

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has banned a discussion forum for students after receiving an anonymous complaint that the group was trying to spread "hatred" about PM Modi and the government policies.

The decision came after the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) institued an inquiry and forwarded the letter to the IIT dean (for students) about the activities of the Ambedkar Periyar Student Circle (APSC).

The letter, which included a copy of an APSC pamphlet, alleged that APSC was trying to mobilise SC/ST students to question govt policies on use of Hindi and the ban on cow slaughter, the Times of India reported today.

The 'controversial' pamphlet was the copy of a speech by a Dravidian University academic R Vivekandanda Gopal on the "Contemporary relevance of Dr Ambedkar". The speaker had reportedly criticised the Modi regime for "pro-corporate" policies such as the Land Acquisition Bill. He had also accused the government of "communally polarising" people by introducing a ban on cow slaughter and through ghar wapsi programs, TOI said in its report.

IIT dean (for students), Sivakumar M Srinivasan, who informed the group that they have been de-recognised, said that he conducted an enquiry and found that "the allegations were true".

Members of APSC, however, say that the complaint came from right-wing groups and that they were denied a hearing. 

"In our interaction with the dean of students, we have been told that our study circle engaged in 'controversial activities' and violated the code of conduct of independent student bodies. We are clear in our stand that we have not misused any privileges given by the institute," a APSC member told the paper.

Reacting to the controversy, the institute in a statement said that while IIT-M does not "curtail" students' freedom of expression, "it is expected that student groups adhere to these guidelines while conducting their activities." 

Asked about complaints that the students concerned were not given a hearing to present their case, Prof Ramamurthy, Acting Director, told reporters that the dean had asked them to appear before the Board of Students in August after the institute, closed for the summer vacations, reopens.  

The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has so far refused to react on the issue. 

The APSC was created as a discussion forum to promote the ideology and writings of B R Ambedkar and Periyar.