Streaming of Modi's 'Pariksha Pe Charcha 2.0' address cut short as students protest at Tiruchy college

A section of students of Periyar EVR College created a ruckus and forced the college management to cut short the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address, Pariksha Pe Charcha 2.0, on Tuesday. They also raised slogans against the prime minister until the streaming was turned off.

Speaking to Express, a student said, “Our college doesn't usually organise cultural or motivational programmes. Now they live-stream the prime minister’s address, which is in Hindi (and English). Many students don’t know Hindi and aren't comfortable with English either.”

Another student said, “Narendra Modi did not visit Tamil Nadu after Cyclone Gaja struck and reacted to it very late. Now, when elections are nearing, there is this communication from him in the form of exam motivation. We didn't want it and opposed the streaming of the address.”

The students said that at a time when many of their teachers striking work, an exam motivation, that too in Hindi and English, was ironic and out of place. They said many hadn't attended the programme and when they got word of it, some of them reached the auditorium and demanded the streaming be stopped. Later, the students raised slogans until the streaming was suspended.

A college teacher, however, blamed "outsiders" for the disruption. “Students were peacefully watching the PM speak on the screen. Towards the end of the programme, a handful of people, some politically motivated students and outsiders, entered the hall and disrupted the streaming,” the teacher said.

Speaking to Express, a student said, “Our college doesn't usually organise cultural or motivational programmes. Now they live-stream the prime minister’s address, which is in Hindi (and English). Many students don’t know Hindi and aren't comfortable with English either.”

Another student said, “Narendra Modi did not visit Tamil Nadu after Cyclone Gaja struck and reacted to it very late. Now, when elections are nearing, there is this communication from him in the form of exam motivation. We didn't want it and opposed the streaming of the address.”

The students said that at a time when many of their teachers striking work, an exam motivation, that too in Hindi and English, was ironic and out of place. They said many hadn't attended the programme and when they got word of it, some of them reached the auditorium and demanded the streaming be stopped. Later, the students raised slogans until the streaming was suspended.

A college teacher, however, blamed "outsiders" for the disruption. “Students were peacefully watching the PM speak on the screen. Towards the end of the programme, a handful of people, some politically motivated students and outsiders, entered the hall and disrupted the streaming,” the teacher said.