Students Refuse To Go Back, Seek Migration; ‘Fake Video Being Circulated To Defame Us’ HAROON MIRANI SmallerDefaultL Mar 18: Despite the state government crediting itself for resolving the issue of expulsion of Kashmiri students, the Swami Vivekanand Subharti University Meerut has expelled six more Kashmiri students who incidentally were not even present at the campus during the Indo-Pak Asia Cup cricket match. The latest incident has ripped apart the government claims that the issue is resolved and students are all set to join the university, most likely after Lok Sabha polls. “I alongwith five other students were at our homes on the day of the incident. On Saturday when we went to the university to join our classes, we were simply kicked off from the campus,” said Younis Gowhar, a physiotherapy student. “The varsity authorities told us that we are also in the list of suspended students so we should immediately get out of the campus,” he said. The students tried to plead their innocence by explaining that they were on holiday and far from the university on that day, but they were not even allowed to stay for a single night. “We were treated as criminals,” said Gowhar. “The atmosphere at the university was highly charged against Kashmiris and we felt that we might be killed if we stayed a bit longer.” With the expulsion of six more students, the total number of Kashmiri students expelled from the university has gone up to 74. The students are from both first year and second year of their respective academic courses. 67 students were expelled from the university on March 3 after they were alleged to have cheered for Pakistan cricket team during Asia Cup match with India. The students said that not a single representative from the government tried to contact them to hear their side of the story. “Even the National Conference representative Junaid Mattoo, who said that the issue stands resolved, refused to meet us when we went to his office,” said Muteeb-ul-Majid, a BBA student. “He (Juniad Mattoo) says he has evidence of our involvement in the fiasco. We want him to show it in public and if we are responsible anywhere, we are ready to face punishment.” The students also expressed anger at Rabia Baji, chairperson of state chapter of All India Centre for Urban and Rural Development an NGO that had sent the students to the university. “On one hand she doesn’t meet us and on the other hand she talks to media and claims that she too has played a role in resolving the issue,” said Muteeb. “What kind of hypocrisy is this? Would anybody tell us what is going on.” The students alleged of being duped by Baji and the university. “Although Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme is a free scheme but we had to pay lakhs of rupees at the rate of Rs 25000 per student for students of 2012 batch and Rs 15000 for 2013 batch,” said Muteeb. “She told us that the money is a security deposit and it would be refunded once our scholarship is released. But that never happened.” The students are worried that a video is being circulated on social media, wherein some youths are celebrating Pakistan’s win in front of a TV and it is being labeled as that of Swami Vivekanand Subharti hostel. “Everywhere we go, people show us that particular video. They claim it is us, but in reality that video is from somewhere else and not of our hostel,” said Muteeb. “We went to meet Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir who too showed us the video and we had to explain to him that it is not of our university.” Majority of the students don’t want to go back to Meerut as they think the situation is far from getting better. “We fear for our lives and some lobbies are still creating hatred for us. Even BJP is campaigning to maintain sedition charges on us,” said another student Irfan. “In such an atmosphere, who will guarantee our security?” The students said they are still booked under two charges (Section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and section 427 (mischief) of Indian Penal Code. Currently the students are running from pillar to post to get help from state government for procuring migration certificates from the university, which according to them is the best solution to this issue. “The state government has the capacity here, the local institutions are ready. Now it is the government that has to take an initiative and we are not asking for some illegal favour. It is within the ambit of law,” said Muteeb. “It is the only way they can save our career rest their action is limited to statements only.” According to reports the state government has turned down the UP administration’s suggestion to shift these boys to a new university. The officials at the university couldn’t be contacted as the office was closed because of Holi holidays.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 02:48:09 +0000
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