As videos of Ashoka University students raising casteist slogans went viral on social media, the varsity has warned of disciplinary action against them and added all measures would be taken to ensure peace and harmony on the campus. A section of students protested on the campus for a week demanding anti-discrimination cell.
Viral videos on social media showed students protesting raising slogans like "We need a caste census" and “Brahmin-Baniyawaad Murdabad” on the university premises. The protests were reportedly headed by Social Justice Forum, an independent student body advocating for the rights of students from ethnic and religious minority backgrounds.
The university in a release on Wednesday said, “Ashoka University attaches great value to freedom of expression and vigorous debate, but it also attaches great importance to mutual respect. The university deplores expressions of hatred directed against any individual or group. Ashoka University's Guidelines on protecting freedom of expression have clearly laid down that such freedom of expression is not unlimited and enjoins respect for the rights and sensibilities of others. This is essential to preserving the spirit of community at Ashoka.”
The varsity warned actions that make the University atmosphere hostile are subject to disciplinary action. “Actions that make the atmosphere intimidating, threatening or hostile to individuals or groups are therefore regarded as serious offences and are subject to University disciplinary procedure. The university will take all measures necessary to ensure that peace and harmony in the campus is not disturbed,” it said.
A section of students protested for a week recently in the campus demanding the varsity management to set up an anti-discrimination cell and caste census on campus. Following the protests, the university on Tuesday decided to set up an ‘Equal Opportunity’ cell to improve policies on inclusion and diversity, The Indian Express reported. The University in a release on Tuesday said, “We are actively working on creating an Equal Opportunity cell, whose role will include making recommendations to the University to improve prevailing practices and policies on inclusion, diversity and sensitisation. It will have faculty, staff, and elected student representatives as members and will be operational soon.”
One of the protesting students told the publication that they had been demanding with the vice-chancellor to set up an anti-discrimination cell and caste census on campus three months ago but no action was taken. The students reportedly protested raising three demands - a comprehensive and anonymous annual caste census that includes students, faculty and workers; an annual event called the Ambedkar Memorial Lecture, where the university will invite speakers and panelists from marginalised communities to speak on social justice; a change in fee payment policy which blocks ID cards and keeps students locked out of facilities like Google Classroom and mess meals, if they pay fees late, which disproportionately affects those from marginalised communities, the publication reported.
