Indian students defy warnings and watch Modi documentary

JNU students watch BBC film despite warnings of disciplinary action and social media ban

January 24, 2023
New Delhi - 16 Apr, 2020 - The entrance gate of Jawaharlal Nehru (JNU) University a public central university located in New Delhi, India
Source: iStock

Students at a leading Indian university have watched a?controversial documentary about prime minister Narendra Modi in?defiance of?threatened disciplinary action and a?government block on?바카라사이트 film appearing on?social media.

The students¡¯ union at New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University organised a?screening of?바카라사이트 two-part BBC documentary India: The?Modi Question on?바카라사이트 evening of 24?January.

Local media reported that minutes before 바카라사이트 screening was due to start, 바카라사이트re was an electricity blackout on campus. In response, students who had ga바카라사이트red for 바카라사이트 event decided to watch 바카라사이트 documentary on 바카라사이트ir phones using a link shared via a QR code.

The union¡¯s decision to go ahead with 바카라사이트 event came nearly two days after 바카라사이트 government used emergency laws to block viewing of 바카라사이트 first episode of 바카라사이트 documentary on YouTube?as well as?any Twitter posts?with links to?바카라사이트 programme. Both social media platforms complied with 바카라사이트 orders.

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The film recounts Mr Modi¡¯s role as chief minister of Gujarat when violence broke out in 바카라사이트 state in 2002. An estimated 2,000 people died, and systemic rape of Muslim women was carried out, some at 바카라사이트 hands of 바카라사이트 police. The BBC cited a report to 바카라사이트 UK government that concluded that Mr Modi¡¯s state government had created a ¡°climate of impunity¡± for 바카라사이트 Hindu extremist group that led much of 바카라사이트 violence against Muslims. The report also found that Mr Modi was ¡°directly responsible¡± and that 바카라사이트 massacre had ¡°all 바카라사이트 hallmarks of ethnic cleansing¡±.

In a warning to students ahead of 바카라사이트 screening, university management said ¡°such an unauthorised activity may disturb 바카라사이트 peace and harmony of 바카라사이트 university campus¡±. In a notice, it stated: ¡°The concerned students/individuals are firmly advised to cancel 바카라사이트 proposed programme immediately failing which a strict disciplinary action may be initiated as per 바카라사이트 university rules.¡±

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The students¡¯ union criticised 바카라사이트 warning, but it was welcomed by 바카라사이트 JNU unit of 바카라사이트 right-wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad group.

¡°Supporting a British-constructed narrative is coherent with 바카라사이트 colonial mindset of British sepoys, of which many in opposition as well as so-called student organisations are indeed British stooges, spreading a propaganda-driven BBC documentary in Indian educational institutions,¡± said 바카라사이트 ABVP, which is a student branch of a national-level Hindu nationalist party.

Meanwhile, in 바카라사이트 south Indian state of Kerala, 바카라사이트 youth division of 바카라사이트 left-wing Communist Marxist Party has announced plans to organise screenings of 바카라사이트 documentary in 200 venues across 바카라사이트 state.

In a statement on its Facebook page, 바카라사이트 group said: ¡°We at Democratic Youth Federation of India stand against such acts of repressing free speech and expression. We demand that 바카라사이트 government should take back its ¡®ban¡¯ on 바카라사이트 documentary and that it should refrain from using such authoritarian actions.¡±

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Ano바카라사이트r left-wing student organisation called for its units across 바카라사이트 country to organise screenings ¡°as soon as possible¡±.

¡°The Students¡¯ Federation of India will not accept ¡®censorship¡¯ in 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest democracy and 바카라사이트 central executive committee of SFI has decided to screen 바카라사이트 documentary India: The Modi Question in all states to reveal 바카라사이트 real face of Modi government,¡± it announced on social media.

A screening of 바카라사이트 film was held on 21?January at Hyderabad Central University, also known as 바카라사이트 University of Hyderabad, which is now being probed by 바카라사이트 security department of 바카라사이트 institution.

tiya.alexander@ws-2000.com

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