RS MPs flay police action on Allahabad univ students

Rajya Sabha MPs on Thursday condemned the recent police action on Allahabad university students, who were protesting against moves to allow only online registration for entrance exams.

During Zero Hour, Tapan Kumar Sen of CPI(M) raised the issue of lathicharge on students on May 2, in which agitating students were “brutally beaten” and several were injured.

Sen said the laticharge took place when the students were protesting against the vice-chancellor’s order on compulsory online application and online entrance exam. “The Government of India has declared war with the students of central universities. First it was JNU and Hyderabad University and now it is the Allahabad university,” he said.

The concerns raised by Sen found support with many other members in the House. President of the Allahabad University Students’ Union was being targeted by the university administration, Sen claimed.

Students are being threatened with disciplinary action and an FIR has been lodged against Richa Singh and other office-bearers of the students’ union. They have been accused of rioting and vitiating the academic atmosphere of the university, he said. 

Sen also informed the House that JNU students are sitting on a hunger strike protesting against the “vindictive punishment order” by the university administration. He added JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar is also on hunger strike and his condition is stated to be “very critical”.