IIM Ahmedabad Students, Professors Barred by Police From Using 'Democracy' Word in Their Protests and Gatherings

Ahmedabad, January 6: Police on Sunday allegedly stopped professors and students of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad using the word "democracy" at their protests and gatherings, reports said. The police directive came shortly before the IIM was to conduct 'Stand Up For Democracy' event at Louis Kahn Plaza - which is part of the institute - on Sunday. It was an internal event of the institute. Every year, IIMA organise this event with an aim to encourage a culture of debate and discussions on issues related to the current state of affairs in the country. CAT 2018 Result: IIM Ahmedabad & Bangalore to Add 800 Seats; List of Top MBA Institutes for Admission Below 90 Percentile.

Netizens took to social media to accuse the Ahmedabad Police of issuing the "bizarre diktat", which prevents the students of a premier Indian institute from using the word "democracy" -- a foundation stone of the Indian republic -- at their events.

Here Are Some Tweets

'Democracy is an undemocratic word'

'Gujarat Model' Jabbed

According to a report published in Ahmedabad Mirror, when the event started, around 25 cops entered the venue and asked the student to call off the event as they did not have permission. Over 100 students, research and academic associates and faculty members had gathered at the venue. They were to read Preamble of the Constitution and poems by Faiz, apart from having a discussion on citizenship and imposition of Section 144. The institute had also planned a candlelight vigil. The venue of the event was part of the IIM premises. Watch: Anti-CAA Protesters in Ahmedabad Caught on Video Pelting Stones at Two Policemen.

"The cops also objected to the title of the event which was Stand Up for Democracy. They said that prior police permission should have been taken for the same. This is a frightening situation,” reported the media house quoting IIMA Professor Navdeep Mathur as saying. After the police asked the institute authorities to call off the event, the venue was shifted to classroom-4. The candlelight march was taken from the classroom-4 to the Louis Kahn Plaza.

However, Ahmedabad police denied these allegations. A senior police officer told the English daily that only two to three cops had gone to the IIMA and spoken to the security there and not entered the gates. Satellite area’s police inspector PD Darji said that the cops went to the security cabin of the institute after getting the information that of a candle march.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 07, 2020 12:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).