Delhi: Police Called in AUD Campus to Stop Screening of BBC Documentary

New Delhi: The screening of the recent BBC documentary was scheduled for 1 p.m on January 27 at Ambedkar University of Delhi (AUD). This call was made on behalf of the Students' Federation of India (SFI). But as in Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Milia Islamia, the same scene was seen in AUD.

The administration cut off the lights of the campus so that the screening of the documentary could not take place. After this, when the students started watching the documentary on their phones and laptops, security guards and Delhi Police officials entered the campus to prevent the screening.

WHAT HAPPENED IN AUD?

The BBC documentary "India - The Modi Question" on the Gujarat 2002 communal violence, is divided into two parts. The first part was released on January 17, and the second on January 24. The documentary mentions a report by the British Foreign Office, which held the then Chief Minister and current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, “directly responsible” for the Gujarat riots. The Central government has blocked the sharing of links of this documentary.

SFI had released the poster to screen this documentary on January 27 at 1 p.m. The screening was to be done in the campus canteen. According to the information that NewsClick received, when the “campus administration cut off the lights and confiscated” the stands brought to put up the screening cloth, the students made a WiFi named PMCARES, which could be connected to watch the documentary.

ABVP studtents raised slogans in protest against the screening.

Speaking with NewsClick, Atman, a student of AUD, alleged that when the students started watching the documentary on their phones, they were threatened by the Proctor that their phones would be confiscated.

"There was a problem in the canteen as well because of the power failure, and the canteen was closed. We came to know that the canteen people were told that if they cannot store food or sell it, then they should throw all the food," he added.

Atman also said that when the students were protesting against the banning of the documentary, students belonging to Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) started chanting 'Radhe-Radhe' and slogans.

Until writing the news, Delhi police officials, including the DGP, were present inside the campus. Protesting against the non-screening of the documentary, the students were shouting slogans at the gate.

SFI AUD secretary Nadia told NewsClick: “The administration had cut off the lights. All the students who are involved in politics were stopped at the gate. Infringing on our privacy, our bags were also checked to see if any student was carrying a dhapli. ABVP came here and sang communal songs and raised communal slogans. The QR code posters we had put up were also torn down by the Proctor."

Talking about the whole matter, a member of the SFI unit told NewsClick: “The administration has threatened students. Efforts are being made to intimidate students by bringing the police into the campus. At present, all the students are at the main gate, standing and protesting.”

Despite blocking of the documentary, screening action is going on in different colleges by the Students Federation of India, NSUI and other organisations. Recently screening was also done at the Hindu College of Delhi University.

Delhi Police Detains 24 Students from DU Arts Faculty

Delhi Police on Friday detained 24 students from the Delhi University's Arts Faculty for planning to screen the controversial BBC documentary on the 2002 Godhra riots, a senior police official said, according to a PTI report.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said, "Around 4 pm, some 20 people came outside the Arts Faculty gate to screen the banned BBC documentary. As it can cause disturbance of peace and tranquility in the area, they were asked to disperse from there.

"When they did not, they were peacefully detained. A total of 24 people were detained."

Earlier in the day, the varsity authorities wrote to Delhi Police about the proposed screening. Delhi University Proctor Rajni Abbi said they would not allow the screening and stressed that the students' outfits had not sought the administration's permission.

The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union has announced a screening of the documentary at 4 p.m on the north campus while the Bhim Army Students' Federation said it would hold a screening outside the varsity's Arts Faculty at 5 p.m.

Documentary Screened at Jadavpur University; Presidency on Friday

Kolkata: More than 100 students at Jadavpur University have reportedly watched the controversial BBC documentary on 2002 Gujarat riots, with a Left student's body having arranged its screening.

The SFI said the police or institute authorities did not interfere with the screening at Jadavpur University on Thursday.

SFI state unit assistant secretary Subhajit Sarkar said that the student's body will hold another screening at Presidency University on Friday.

Authorities at Presidency are yet to give a formal nod, but "we will still go ahead with the show", he said.

Sarkar, a former Presidency student, also claimed, "The varsity has effected a power cut at the badminton court, where the screening was supposed to be held. We will now use the common room for the show."

An official at the university, however, said the power cut happened due to technical reasons.

Meanwhile, All India Students’ Association (AISA), another Left body, said it will hold another screening of the documentary at Jadavpur University on Friday.

(Translated from Hindi. With inputs from PTI)