Several students of the Mahatma Gandhi Hindi University were attacked by ABVP hooligans on the intervening night of March 31st and April 1st, when they were sitting in solidarity with a protesting student - Rajneesh Kumar Ambedkar - who has been demanding that his PhD thesis be evaluated and that he is granted a doctorate degree.
The students were assaulted by the Sangh Parivar goons in the middle of the night, who raised ‘Jai Sri Ram’ slogans, and hurled casteist abuses at the protesting student Rajneesh, who belongs to the Dalit community. The goons also assaulted and threatened other students who tried to film the attack.
In no uncertain terms, the ABVP was acting at the behest of the University administration to break the on-going protest and intimidate the students who were expressing solidarity. The students who have been grievously injured are currently undergoing treatment. However, no action has been taken against the perpetrators in this instance, with no FIR being registered whatsoever.
AISA strongly condemns the Hindi University administration for their cowardly acts of breaking students’ democratic protests by using communal goons. AISA demands that an FIR be registered for assault against the perpetrators and demands their immediate arrest.
University spaces have become exclusionary zones for those students coming from marginalised backgrounds who have to fight for even the basic issues such as getting a degree. Hindi University Wardha must pay heed to the just demands of Rajneesh Kumar Ambedkar and ensure his PhD thesis is evaluated and a degree is granted to him.
