They disrupted a program featuring a JNU professor, threatened TCN reporter
By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net
Varanasi: Earlier today Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad(ABVP) members tried to stop a program that featured JNU Professor Badri Narain organized by the Faculty of Arts of Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
Prof. Badri Narain was speaking on the topic of “Subaltern society and developing India.” After his talk story writer Kashinath Singh who has returned Sahitya Akademi award as part of the “Award Wapsi”, was giving his presidential address.
At this point, carrying Indian flag and some of them sporting saffron headbands about a hundred ABVP members barged into the auditorium carrying placards- one of them called JNU an anti-national institution.
They also carried photos of soliders killed in Siachen.
After seeing Badri Narain on the stage, a few yelled “throw shoes on him” and “shoot the XXXX.” A few of the students also tried to get on the stage but others writers and poets pushed them back. They asked the organizers to send the JNU professor out of the auditorium and also condemn the “anti-national” activity of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar.
The organizer countered by saying that Badri Narain is a teacher in a government institution and he can be invited anywhere. They also said they condemn all anti-national activities happening anywhere in the nation.
After 15 minutes of making commotion, the group of students left.
Poetry session that followed the presidential address then saw all poets condemn this act by ABVP members.
Various writers associations of India have condemned this act. They had said that this act is sure a proof of rising intolerance in the country that BJP and government is denying.
BHU is considered a stronghold of Hindutva right wing groups.
This reporter was threatened when he was trying to record the ABVP protest. In the video it can be clearly heard that one of the students tells this reporter that it will be better for him if he puts his mobile phone in his pocket. After this reporter exited the auditorium then some of the students who were part of the protest tried to snatch his phone. Bystanders intervened and this reporter along with his mobile was able to escape and tell this story.