Appeal for Solidarity and Action: Festival on Constitution Blocked: Allahabad University

By Dilip -
NB: The Allahabad University authorities have acted in a brazen and partisan manner by forcing the cancellation of this event - and there are suggestions this was done under pressure from the Union Government. According to their logic, discussions on the Indian Constitution may only take place in states where the BJP is not in power. Does that mean the ruling parties in non-BJP ruled states are violating India's statutory law? In which case the Centre should dismiss them and install Presidents Rule. In addition, if the BJP/RSS find it offensive that Indian students should discuss the Constitution in states ruled by them, why not drop the subject from all university and school syllabi as well?

 India is still a democracy, in case the university authorities need to be reminded of the fact. The RSS/ BJP talk about the Emergency as if they were the heroic defenders of democratic rights. It seems now that they wish to use democracy to deprive us of our right to speak. Should we presume that it might soon be declared be 'anti-national' to talk about the Constitution? Or is only the RSS permitted to discuss it? DS


RSS Ideologue Govindacharya: ‘We Will Rewrite the Constitution to Reflect Bharatiyata’
Delhi School of Economics refuses permission to students to hold panel discussion
Ramjas College - censorship continues

 Here is a letter circulated by the organisers

 Appeal for Solidarity and Action: Fest on Constitution Blocked: Allahabad University
Some of us came together to initiate a series of events by the name ‘Liberty Festival’ that would 
engage youth across different college and University campuses to talk and celebrate the Constitution of India. In this series, the next one was to be held in Allahabad University, on September 18, 2017. The conceptualization of the Liberty Festival was a day of discussions, theatre, films, workshops, paintings etc. where young people are encouraged to think critically. The idea is to aware youth about the Constitution and its rich legacy.

Based on this idea, students of Allahabad University approached the Vice Chancellor for permission to hold the event and received his written consent on 13.09. 17. The letter allocated the Senate Hall for the this event. He also agreed in this letter, to be the Chief Guest of event. Based on the permission, due arrangements began at our end.

However, as the mobilization began on the ground, the Vice Chancellor was contacted by senior officials from the Ministry of Human Resource Development inquiring about the event. After which, the permission for the venue was withdrawn. The withdrawal of permission was verbally communicated by the University administration. In this communication, it was mentioned that they (the University administration, especially the VC) have been pressurized to immediately cancel this event, as this is an anti-state event. We were asked why do we need to celebrate the Constitution here in Allahabad? By doing this, are we implicating that the functioning of this University is anti-Constitution? If we at all want to talk about the Constitution, then we should go to Bengal and Kerala and do such events. We were also asked to start events celebrating the Swach Bharat Abhiyan instead.

This was a gross violation all forms of agreeable norms and standards. Written permission confirming a venue was given by the University administration.  Based on which arrangements were made. Artists from Delhi had agreed to come and booking had been made. Cancelling the venue on the last day jeopardized the entire event, making sure that we fail to make any alternative arrangements. 

Meanwhile on social media and other platforms, ABVP and RSS groups launched a malicious campaign targeting the different guests who had committed to be present at the festival. (Attached the pamphlet circulated by ABVP) 

However, since there was no written communication cancelling the permission, we went ahead with the event. We assembled in the front lawns of the Senate Hall on Monday (September 18) morning in presence of police personnel. We initiated discussion on the Constitution and principles of equity, equality and freedom. More than 200 students participated in this discussion.

We seek your solidarity in protesting and raising our voice against blatant violation of freedom of speech and expression. We feel if we are stopped and blocked to celebrate our Constitution in University spaces, where minds of our future citizens are been nurtured and shaped, then where is our country headed after completing 70 years of independence and democracy.

We written an open letter to the Vice Chancellor, which has been published widely by various news daily (news links given below). 

We feel there is an urgent need to come together and stand up against a force that threatens to shut us down by branding us anti-national and anti-state. The incident in Allahabad University is not an isolated event, but what this incident indicates is severity of the problem. If students are not even allowed to talk and discuss the Constitution, then there is much to worry.

In Solidarity,

Concerned Citizens Group &
JAC, Allahabad University

News Coverage: 

https://thewire.in/178594/allahabad-university-withdraws-permission-for-literary-event-after-pressure-from-hrd-ministry/

http://indianexpress.com/article/education/allahabad-university-cancels-permission-for-liberty-fest-4850221/

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/campus/allahabad-university-withdraws-permission-for-liberty-fest-read-students-open-letter-to-vc

http://www.ummid.com/news/2017/September/18.09.2017/allahabad-university-liberty-festival.html

http://www.jansatta.com/rajya/uttar-pradesh/allahabad/allahabad-university-cancels-nod-for-liberty-fest-vc-says-university-authorities-were-misled-into-believing-that-eminent-persons/435208/

https://scroll.in/article/851066/did-allahabad-university-cancel-an-event-for-fear-that-it-was-like-anti-national-programme-in-jnu

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