Sixty-six days since forming its second government, the BJP fulfilled a promise it had made in its first manifesto. Yes, we're talking about Article 370, which allowed a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
It's been a week since Article 370 was abrogated by the government and the decision received a mix response from the general public. Some have celebrated in, some have criticised it and called it a human rights violation. Our campuses have also been equally involved in the discourse, however, in some of the Universities students weren't allowed to as much as hold a discussion on the issue. Some of the reactions that the students have been getting from their administration are almost unheard of in the past. We trace incidents that have happened on the campus ever since the abrogation of Article 370.
Central University of Tamil Nadu
Thirty students of CUTN, who are part of a study circle were served a memo for conducting a discussion on Article 370 and its historical relevance. Prior to this, the students were issued a circular claiming that the students had raised slogans and that this was unlawful. The students at the same time said that what had happened was a mere discussion and that no slogans were raised.
University of Hyderabad
On the day of the Article 370's abrogation, Section 144 was imposed in the Cyberabad area, where UoH was located. The University had issued a circular stating that all protests and agitations are prohibited in the UoH campus with immediate effect and assembling of five or more persons in one place was also prohibited forthwith. Prior to this, the police had dispersed a group of students who had assembled to protest the abrogation.
Aligarh Muslim University
On August 8, the district administration tightened the security around the premises of Aligarh Muslim University. There were speculations that the students were going to conduct a debate on the scrapping of 370 and the Kashmir issue. A company of RAF, civil police and PAC were deployed to ensure there is no law and order problem near the university. However, the AMUSU said that no such debate was held in the university.
On August 12, around 250 Kashmiri students denied the centre's invitation for Eid Al-Adha lunch.
Jamia Millia Islamia
The All India Students' Association alleges that its event 'State Brutalism and Surveillance: A Tale of UAPA and NIA' which was to be held in JMI on August 8 was cancelled. One of the speakers there was the CPIML member Kavita Krishnan. The activists were asked by the police to cancel the event as it may create security issues.
"Our country is going through a difficult phase where our Right To Speech and Expression is under attack. The speakers were to talk on the very draconian UAPA and NIA amendment Bill which pose serious threats to Human Rights and Democratic Federalism," AISA's Facebook post read.
Jadavpur University
A few students of Jadavpur University had allegedly received rape threats for putting up a Facebook post saying that they are willing to help Kashmiri students in the city. They were also asked to remove the post and their posters.
Pondicherry University
The PU unit of the Students' Federation of India had organised a protest rally on the night of August 5. They reportedly clashed with the ABVP members in the university, who had burst crackers allegedly to harm the protestors. There were also reports that abuses were hurled at the protestors.
