Pondy varsity students' magazine in trouble for criticising Centre

The students’ magazine of the Pondicherry Central University has got into trouble for criticising the Centre.

While the BJP has launched a protest against the magazine, the Union HRD Ministry and Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi have sought an explanation from the varsity.

Recently, the Pondicherry Central University Students’ Council released its annual magazine titled ‘Widerstand’ (German for resistance). In the content, especially in the editorial column, it was mentioned that a year has passed by where the “democratic nation has turned into a fascist one” where the “Dalits are burned alive and the educational institutions were saffronised”. The student organisation, which published the magazine, defended that articles supported the students’ movements in Indian educational campuses.

Meanwhile, several hundred BJP cadres, led by president V Saminathan, burnt the copies and demanded action against the editorial team.

When the situation went out of control, the university administration immediately issued a statement saying that it had no role in publishing the magazine. However, Kiran Bedi sought an explanation on how the varsity allowed the publication of such a magazine.

Sources said that the varsity has issued a show-cause notice to the chief editor of the magazine.
Last Thursday, Dean of Students’ Welfare Prakash Babu of Hyderabad Central University unveiled the book in the presence of incharge vice-chancellor Anisa Basheer Khan along with students’ council members of the university.

Interestingly, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy was supposed to be the chief guest for the release function. However, due to some reasons, he could not attend it.