Govt not behind ban on IIT students group: BJP

Nagapattinam (TN) May 31: BJP on Sunday said the Union government was not behind the derecognition of a students' body at IIT-Madras and the decision was taken by the administration of the institute on the grounds of "misuse of privileges and violation of guidelines".

"The Union Government was not behind the ban on Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle. The decision to derecognise and ban the students' group was taken by the IIT- Madras administration on grounds of misuse of privileges and violation of guidelines," BJP National Secretary H Raja told PTI at Ananthamangalam near Porayar. [HRD ministry has nothing to do with it, IIT-Madras took action as per their own guidelines: Smriti Irani]

IIT-Madras found itself in the centre of a controversy over derecognition of the students' group, many of whose members are Dalits, following a complaint that it was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The move had triggered protests from Congress and AAP. NSUI workers had protested outside HRD Minister Smriti Irani's official residence in Delhi over the issue.

Meanwhile, asked about BJP's stand on the June 27 bypoll for RK Nagar assembly constituency at Chennai,from which Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is contesting, Raja said the party would take a decision tomorrow.

PTI