Mahatma Gandhi Hindi University: 6 Dalit, OBC students expelled for writing letters to PM Modi on lynching

Days after an FIR was registered against 50 intellectuals for writing an open letter to PM Modi on lynching, in a similar incident, six students of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Viswavidyalaya (MGAHV) Wardha, have been expelled for organising an event for writing letters to PM Modi on lynching and lock down Kashmir.

Student activists told National Herald that they wanted to highlight the issues of mob lynching, selling out of PSUs, lock down in Kashmir and shielding of the leaders who have been accused of rape among others by writing letters to the PM but varsity administration has expelled them, citing “violation of model code of conduct”.

A letter issued by MGAHV administration says that the students have been expelled on the grounds of “violation of model code of conduct” and “interference to administrative process”.

However, expelled students denied the charges terming their expulsion as “an attempt to crush those voices who opposed Saffronization of the university founded in the name of Mahatma Gandhi”.

A student leader told NH that the varsity administration allowed RSS activists to hold programmes / Shakha in the campus. However, when they sought permission for celebrating BSP founder Kanshiram’s Mahaparinirvan-Diwas, they were not allowed.

It is important to note here that all six expelled students belong to Dalit, OBC category.

In a release issued by student leader Chandan Saroj on Wednesday, it was stated that the event was organised in protest against the sedition charge that was slapped against 50 eminent personalities for writing an open letter to the PM on mob lynchings.

Saroj said, “while students did write letters to the PM, the university administration attempted to stall the event. The administration deployed heavy security and stopped students from entering Gandhi Hall. The students then staged a sit-in at the gate of Gandhi Hall and raised slogans,”.

Surprisingly, the expulsion letter does not mention anything about the event.

A release issued by the student organisation, AISA stated that the “alleged crime” of the students was “to write letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the present situation in the country.”