By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Commemorating the first anniversary of research scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide, students of Jamia Millia Islamia on Wednesday under of banner of Muslim Student Federation organized a protest inside the campus.
Muslim Student Federation (MSF) is a student organisation affiliated to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
The protest was part of MSF “social Justice week” from January 17-23, 2017, which is being held in various university campuses across the country to highlight the issues being faced by the students.
The protest march started from the central canteen of Jamia Millia Islamia and after passing through the various departments of the university concluded at the same canteen. Protesting students raised slogans like, “Rohit Vemula Amar Rahe, Brahmanwad nahi chelega, Sathi Najeeb ko wapis lao”.
Addressing the gathering, MSF speakers expressed apprehensions about the stifling of freedom of speech and expression in the university campuses across the country.
While censoring the Delhi Police for not properly investigating the case of missing Najeeb Student, Ahmed Saju, Vice President of MSF said, “Students who question BJP or its associate student wings are being tagged as anti-national and they are not let to speak up freely. An environment of fear is being created in the country.”
Ateeb Maaz Khan, President, MSF Delhi unit and student of AJK Mass Communication told TwoCircles.net, “Students are rising against the oppression being perpetrated on the students across the university campuses. They can kill one Rohith but we are all Rohith Vemula and Najeeb Ahmed.”
“Rohith questioned fascist movement in the HCU campus that’s why he was suspended. We salute him for his position and for uniting the oppressed,” he added
The protesters also demanded enactment of Rohit Act.“Enacting Rohith Act will redress caste discrimination within the institution of higher learning,” Aliah Khan, a student of Department of Political Science told TCN.