IIT Madras takes action against students' group, debate in social media

Updated: Friday, May 29, 2015, 19:43 [IST]

Chennai, May 29: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has taken action against a students' study group after receiving an anonymous complaint that it was criticising the policies of the Narendra Modi government and spreading hatred against him, reports said.

The Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle was stopped from using the auditorium, the IIT email and the institute notice board.

The Human Resource Development Ministry wrote to the institute's director on May 15 saying an anonymous letter alleging serious complaints was received from students. The letter contained a pamphlet of the study circle criticising the Modi government, said the reports.

The students' group denied the allegations and said it was never allowed to speak in its defence. It said the constitution of the country allows criticism of the government and its policies and accused the IIT authorities of trying to stifle the democracy.

A section said the episode had nothing to do with PM but reservation issue

The action by the IIT authorities sparked a debate on the social media. While some condemned the act, saying criticism is an essential part of democracy, others said the episode had nothing to do with the PM but was related to implementation of reservation.

(#2) So now groups are being derecognized on anonymous complaints that they have criticized Modi’s government. http://t.co/l7i0hcknw9
— Dilip DSouza (@DeathEndsFun) May 29, 2015

Dear IIT Madras students, will you soon have military police turning up at your hostel for combing operation #BJPruinsIIT
— WithRG (@CongressFans) May 29, 2015

In IIT Madras or any educational institutions, groups with political agendas should not be encouraged in the name of Freedom of expression!
— Jeril Jacob George (@jeriljacob) May 29, 2015

Just read IIT Madras correspondence. student grp protesting alleged failure to implement reservation, no mention of PM. #IITMadras
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) May 29, 2015