At least eight students were suspended in Central University of Rajasthan for watching BBC documentary that questions PM Narendra Modi and his leadership during Gujarat Muslim genocide 2002.
The students were suspended after ABVP, the student wing of Hindutva militant group RSS, posted a list of 24 students – who watched the documentary – and hurled abuses against the students while demanding strict actions against them.
On Thursday, some students were watching the documentary on their mobile phones, a student told Maktoob over phone. While students watching documentary peacefully, ABVP students tried to disrupt them raising Jai Shree Ram slogans. The cops also reached the spot.
At Thursday night, ABVP students gathered in the basketball raised hate slogans against students who watched documentary critical of PM Modi. “Desh ke gaddaro ko, goli maaro saalon ko” (shoot the traitors of the country” slogans were also raised by the saffron students.
“They barged into our hostel rooms,” a student said.
A day after the incident, on 27 January, the university registrar issued a notice saying that “in the wake of recent development over a documentary controversy over social media and other media platforms, it has been decided by the Competent Authority to enforce a ban of screening the BBC documentary with immediate effect.”
On the same day, the university proctor suspended eight students.
“An inquiry by Proctorial Board, it is found that …….. is guilty of indiscipline under Central University of Rajasthan Ordinance 47, (Clause 3.3 and 3.5). As per the clause 4.3 of University Ordinance 47, …….., is expelled from both academics and hostel for 14 days with immediate effect,” read one of the orders.
Six among eight students suspended are Muslims.
