Student group stages protest inside IIT-M

The banned Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC) members on Tuesday launched a protest demonstration inside IIT-Madras campus seeking unconditional apology from the Dean for de-recognising their group.

The agitating members, who received support from political parties across the country, raised slogans and banners critical of IIT-Madras management and demanded recognition for their association. Police did not arrest them.

IIT-Madras has been in the centre of a controversy following its ban on APSC for criticising the Modi government and its policies and hurting Hindu sentiments.

The institution justified its ban of APSC saying: "as per the guidelines in force, student groups could not use the name of IIT-Madras or its official entities in any capacity to publicise their activities or garner support without official permission".

Media persons were denied entry into the campus and were seen arguing with the police.
Meanwhile, agitations against the ban on APSC entered its fourth day with students organisations like Makkal Kalai Iyakkam, Students Federation of Youth (SFY) and supporters of Puthiya Tamizhagam party led by its Founder Dr K Krishnaswamy were arrested for protesting against the ban.

This follows demonstrations on Monday by various political parties, including the student wing of the opposition DMK.

On Tuesday afternoon, more than hundred lawyers of the Madras High Court Advocates Association held protests before the court complex condemning the ban.  They raised slogans against the IIT management and demanded immediate lifting of the ban.

On Tuesday, APSC representatives met with IIT-Madras’s Director-In-Charge, after which it was decided that the banned student body would hold an emergency meeting with Board of Students (BoS) soon.

Following their discussion with the management, the APSC team laid several demands including re-recognising APSC, unconditional apology from Dean of students for misuse of official power and overturn undemocratic code of conduct that breaches Article 19(A) of the Constitution.

The student group also demanded official recognition of all independent student bodies and free expression of their social, political and economic views.