Chhatra Bharati’s Students Summit was planned long ago in which both Mevani, Khalid and other prominent personalities were invited to speak. The students body, however, accused the police of acting at the behest of the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government in the state “to crush the voice of the students”
MUMBAI (IANS) — Angry protests erupted and anti-government slogans were raised here on Thursday as the police abruptly refused permission for a convention to be attended by Gujarat Dalit legislator Jignesh Mevani and JNU student leader Umar Khalid, a day after the massive shutdown called by Dalit groups across Maharashtra.
Confirming the development, a Mumbai police spokesperson said that the permission has been denied for the Chhatra Bharati’s All India National Students Summit scheduled in Vile Parle, but declined to assign any reasons.
Official sources said that the refusal for the Left-oriented student body meet came in the wake of prohibitory orders imposed in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra after Wednesday’s shutdown, which left one student dead in Nanded and many more injured.
Opposing the police move, Chhatra Bharati members attempted to squat outside the Bhaidas Hall (venue) and many were seen running on the main road outside.
Defying police action, some members attempted to enter the auditorium, but were evicted by the police and several were bundled into a police van and detained.
Chhatra Bharati Vice President Sagar Bhalerao said that the daylong event was planned long ago in which both Mevani, Khalid and other prominent personalities were invited to speak.
They accused the police of acting at the behest of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena government in the state “to crush the voice of the students” who raise uncomfortable questions, but vowed they would continue their struggle.
Authorities have detained the organisers of the proposed event and imposed section 144 of the IPC to prevent people from assembling at the spot.
Mevani, Khalid booked for Pune violence
Meanwhile, the Pune police have booked Mevani, a newly elected Gujarat legislator, and Khalid on charges of promoting enmity between two groups and instigating violence following a complaint against them over allegedly making controversial statements at an event and inciting violence at Bhima Koregaon,which led to the death of a 28-year-old man and triggered Dalit protests across Maharashtra.
Earlier, in 2016, Mevani had spearheaded protests in Gujarat, after four Dalits were allegedly flogged by upper-caste men for skinning a dead cow.
“The programme was apolitical. We wanted to ask Umar Khalid and Jignesh Mevani questions. The Pune unrest has nothing to do with Mevani,” said Sachin Bansode, Chhatra Bharati’s Mumbai president.
(With inputs from Hindustan Times)
