A few days after an FIR was lodged against a group of activists and actors for penning a letter condemning the increased incidents of mob lynching and violence in the country, a central university has suspended six of its students for doing the same. The students of the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha were sent suspension letters after they organised an event, asking the students to send postcards condemning lynchings to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Here's the crowning irony though. The authorities have missed the fact that one of these six people had already graduated from the university and is no longer a student!
"I completed my MBA from MGAHV last year. I am a member of AISA and played a part in organising the event, as an alumnus. However, the university was too careless to notice that and sent me a suspension letter," says Rajesh Kumar Yadav. The students have been suspended as that they had violated the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules. "However, this code of conduct is not applicable to a central university," says Rajesh.
The event was conducted on October 5 by students belonging to various student organisations. As part of this, 200 students are believed to have sent postcards to the Prime Minister. "Whatever is happening in our country is not right. People in Kashmir are suffering. Little children are getting raped and innocents are getting lynched. We had to raise our voice against this," says Rajesh. He adds that a delegation of students are planning to meet the university's Vice-Chancellor to discuss the issue.
Condemning the incident, AISA, in a press release said, "We demand that the suspension letter against the six students must be withdrawn immediately. The freedom of expression of the students can not be curtailed by the Wardha administration. We call upon all to rise up in protest against the vindictive action against the students of Wardha University."
We've written an email to the university's registrar seeking a comment. This copy will be updated once he responds.
