Ayodhya students face sedition charge for raising 'azadi' slogans
In Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya, the police have booked six persons, including college students, for sedition after the principal of government-run KS Saket Degree College filed a complaint alleging that they had raised "anti-national slogans like le ke rehenge azadi."
In Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya, the police have booked six persons, including college students, for sedition after the principal of government-run KS Saket Degree College filed a complaint alleging that they had raised “anti-national slogans like le ke rehenge azadi,” reported The Indian Express on Monday.
The six persons, Sumit Tewari, Shesh Narayan Pandey, Imran Hashmi, Satwik Pandey, Mohit Yadav and Manoj Mishra, were named in an FIR on December 18, and were booked under IPC sections pertaining to sedition, rioting and criminal intimidation.
Principal ND Pandey alleged “some outsiders, anti-social elements and so-called leaders” had started protesting in demand of student elections after admission process and classes started at the college on December 7. On December 16, they locked the main gate and also misbehaved with the students, teachers and other stuff, according to his complaint.
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He further alleged that they had interrupted classes and raised “indecent and anti-national slogans like le ke rehenge azadi (we shall win freedom)”. Noting that the Ramjanmabhoomi site was nearby, he said there was a need to look out for “anti-national activities” and that slogans “that are raised in Jawaharlal Nehru University” can’t be allowed there.
Speaking to the news outlet, he asked what kind of azadi do the students want. Stating that the admission process is still on, he also wondered how can elections he held.
The students, however, defended their actions saying they were protesting in demand of student elections and that their slogans were aimed at the principal and chief proctor.
Abhaas Krishna Yadav, who was elected student union president in 2018, said the elections couldn’t be held last year due to the Ram temple issue and that there were no protest over that since it was a sensitive issue. But, this year, he asked why the student elections were cancelled when polling is happening across India and classes are also being conducted.
Meanwhile, police said the matter is being investigated and that they will be scanning the CCTV footage. They said action will be taken if there’s violation of law.
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