Protests grow against IIT Madras derecognition of student group

Around 100 people arrested near the institute, political parties join stir

The derecognition of Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle (APSC) by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras) in its campus has triggered more protest from political parties and youth organisations on Saturday with political parties including Communist Party of India (CPI) joining the protestors.

CPI State Secretary R Mutharasan has condemned the action of IIT Madras against the student circle. He said that IIT Madras would not have taken the decision on its own and the action was triggered by the central government. He said that the recognition for the APSC should be restored immediately.

Different organisations conducted protest in various parts of Chennai on Saturday against action. A total of around 100 people were detained by the police near IIT Madras till noon, on Saturday, for allegedly violating law by protesting in public place, according to police officials. The protestors were taken to a community hall, said a police official.

The institute has derecognised APSC recently and allegations were raised that the action was taken after a Ministry of Human Resources has issued a letter asking the instituions' comment on pamphlets distributed by the Student Circle, which according to APSC, were criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his policies.

 

Protests were organised by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Radical Students' Youth Front and Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam near the IIT Madras. Indian National Congress also conducted protest in some parts of the city.

A DYFI member claimed that around 80 members assembled near the institute for protest and the police has arrested around 48 of them including ladies, for conducting protest without prior permission.

Members of Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam were also arrested while they were holding protest at Madhya Kailash, around half a kilometer away from the main gate of the institute.

The IIT Madras defended its move stating that the while the institute does not curtail the freeedom of expression of students, the student groups has to adhere to the guidelines set by the Board of Students.

"As per the guidelines in force, the student bodies are not allowed to use the institute's name (IIT Madras) or any of its official entities in any capacity, to publicise their activities or garner support, without official approval," it said. The student group has violated these guidelilnes while conducting their meeting and thus faced the normal procedure of temporary derecognition pending their presenting their stand to the Board of Students, it added.

The political parties including the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and others have come out with protest on Friday, as the news of derecognition and the institute's explanation came in.

The Ministry of HRD has also issued a statement on Friday that the action has been taken by IIT Madras as per the guidelines of the Institute and the Ministry of Human Resource Development had nothing to do with this except for forwarding the complaint received to Director, IIT Madras for comments.

"IIT, Madras has taken action as per their own procedure and Institute's guidelines. IITs being autonomous institutions, they are competent to handle matters within their guidelines and procedure," said the Ministry statement.