Kolkata: Left students’ organisations at Presidency University have demanded revocation of the expulsion of a current PG student and a former student even as ABVP urged the university to disclose their identity and make the CCTV footage of their act public.
But opposing the university administration’s decision of expulsion, AISA unit president Anwesha Thander said, “The words written on the poster were a direct outcome of student outrage against ABVP’s divisive politics, not an attempt to disrespect Vivekananda. The administration is using this incident as a tool to silence dissenting voices and suppress campus democracy under right-wing pressure. ” President of Presidency Alumni Association Bivas Chaudhuri said, “We had a discussion with the university authorities and requested them to take a lenient path so that the career of the students are not destroyed. IC in a statement said, “We demand the immediate and unconditional revocation of the expulsion orders. SFI unit secretary Ushashree Mitra said, “Disciplinary measures must be corrective, rehabilitative and proportionate in nature—not punitive or retaliatory. The Aidso unit secretary, Debanjan Das, said, “This decision is oppressive, insensitive and contrary to the image of this university, which is a space for democratic consciousness and free thinking. RSF unit convener Antik Sankar Majumder, too, called the authorities’ decision “oppressive” and demanded the revocation of the expulsion decision.
Taking a drastic step that ruins a student’s academic future is irrational and ill-tempered. We condemn the incident, which goes against the culture of Presidency. We call upon students, teachers, staff and alumni and civil society to stand against this disproportionate punishment and defend the democratic character and institutional autonomy of our university.
They will not be allowed to take admission to any course at Presidency. Presidency University on Friday expelled two students for allegedly defacing an ABVP poster with the image of Vivekananda on it.