Ensure scheduled workshop on stopping Fake News is conducted despite threats of violence
In yet another instance of gross intimidation, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), have threatened human rights activist and journalist Teesta Setalvad against conducting a workshop at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth in Varanasi. The workshop titled, “Mainstream journalism in the age of Social Media” is scheduled to take place today at 2 pm. The move, is yet another example of bullying and strong arm tactics for which the ABVP, the purported ‘students’ wing of the BJP and RSS, has gained notoriety.
Even as Setalvad and her team face clear and present danger to their lives, it is notable that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP Chief Amit Shah had conducted a ‘Yuva Udghosh’ on the same campus just last month in an alleged bid to encourage students to enlist in ABVP, a group that is never shy of resorting to violence and hooliganism. According to BJP’s Kashi Region Unit President, Laxman Acharya, the ‘Yuva Udghosh’ programme aims to bring into the ABVP fold youths who are 17 years and above in age, who will become new voters before the 2019 parliamentary elections. Amit Shah addressed a gathering of 17,000 youths in Varanasi in a bid to possibly mobilise them in future for strengthening BJP’s booth level teams under its ‘per booth, 10 youth’ strategy.
“Neither the college administration nor the district administration raised any voices against the ‘Yuva Udghosh’ programme, however, in the Media workshop programme is facing challenges from both the fronts”, alleged a student highlighting the amount of control right wing forces exert over the University.
In an attempt to cast aspertions about the motive behind the media workshop where Teesta Setalvad is the main speaker, Abhishek Mishra, District Co-ordinator of ABVP in Kashi and a youth worker of RSS, predictably labelled it as ‘Anti-national activity’ and said, “Aman ke Dushman Wapas Jao” (Enemies of peace, go back). In a post on Facebook, he alleged that after spreading ‘hate’ in various universities in the country namely JNU, BHU and others, “anarchic” elements are trying to instigate the University, right under the nose of the administration.
The ABVP seems to be baffled by the book release function of Ms. Setalavad that took place yesterday, in which her autobiography “Samvidhan ki Sipahi” (Footsoldier of the Constitution) was released. Spreading more ‘FAKE NEWS’, the same status goes on to call CJP and Sabrang “banned” NGOs. Finally, in what looks like a rather twisted threat and possibly a covert call to arms, the post asks, “If the atmosphere of Kashi Vidyapeeth gets spoilt, then who will be held responsible?”
It is very clear that ABVP feels emboldened to issue such threats because of the political backing and support that it enjoys not just from the state government but also from the Centre. However, despite such threats, Teesta Setalvad, with the immense support of student community, has decided to go ahead with the programme. Students said, “We will not give in to the stifling of democracy through such threats.”
At the time of publishing this report, Teesta Setalvad had been surrounded by ABVP member chanting slogans against her.