It would seem that the administration of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has conspired to derail the careers of students who organized a protest against the sexual harassment of a student on campus.
Varanasi: It would seem that the administration of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has conspired to derail the careers of students who organized a protest against the sexual harassment of a student on campus.
Three months ago, BHU barred 11 students from taking admissions in future courses. These students had participated in a protest last year against the molestation of a student.
The 11 debarred students include three girls, out of which two have now joined Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Shivangi Chaubey, a 21-year-old girl from Bihar’s Buxar, who successfully cleared the entrance exam for MA in linguistics at BHU, has now joined DU for the same course. Saumya Pandey, 18, a Varanasi girl, quit BA (Chinese) to join JNU. Other nine students are continuing their Master’s course but won’t be able to take re-admission.
“An inquiry report by the standing committee of BHU on July 24 this year served orders on these students while invoking provisions of ordinances from BHU’s calendar and charging them with the acts of vandalism, assault, dharna and protest on May 2, this year,” Times of India reported.
The May 2 incident was a showdown between students and chief proctor Royona Singh after she made snide remarks on the September 2017 protest, calling it a sponsored event where pizzas and colas were distributed. The students have been demanding that GCASH (Gender sensitization against sexual harassment committee) be set up in the university and the ban on female hostel timings and non-veg food be lifted.
An FIR was lodged against the students for attempting to murder Singh. Singh had made that complaint which was supported by university staff. The Varanasi police did not find any credible evidence and dropped the names of 10 students from the final chargesheet filed in September 2018.
“Shame on Royana Singh and other BHU administrative officials who conspire to shut progressive voices in the University by putting fake and serious criminal charges against their own students. Well, truth prevails, but what about the loss that has been done? What about the opportunities we have missed? What about the social defamation because of all the news headlines and the notices/letters/mails to our parents? And I AM STILL DEBARRED. WE ARE STILL DEBARRED. What about it? Is the administration going to get away with it? Playing with our lives and careers? Well, SHAME ON BHU ADMINISTRATION!” wrote Shivangi Choubey on her Facebook timeline.
A BHU student Facebook page also remarked about how the Vice-Chancellor and the Chief Proctor were attacking the students and creating false cases against them to derail their careers.
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