Accused of Racism, Manipal’s Rashmi Samant quits as Oxford Students’ Union President-Elect
London/ Bengaluru: According to a Times of India report, Manipal based Rashmi Samant, who became the first Indian woman to be elected president of the Oxford University Students’ Union had to inadvertently quit after her past social media post was accused of carrying ‘racist’ and ‘insensitive’ references to the Holocaust.
Rashmi, who did her schooling in Manipal, Udupi, is the daughter of Vathsala Samant, a homemaker, and businessman Dinesh Samant. According to Oxford University, she had received 1,966 of the 3,708 votes cast for SU President securing a landslide victory.
However, the victory was short-lived due to the ‘racism’ controversy, which emerged in the background of her win. Following the circulation of her past problematic social media post, Rashmi issued an apology through an open letter which read, “Every student who has been hurt by my actions or words and seek a chance to gain your trust in me again.”
She further said, “I fully acknowledge my shortcomings over the years and the past few days in my capacity as President-elect.”
'I come to you with an apology and a willingness to learn. I earnestly seek your help in making amends for my mistakes.'
Despite her apology, as calls for her resignation continued, in a Facebook post on Tuesday Rashmi Samant announced that she had decided to step down as President-Elect.
'In light of the recent events surrounding my election to the Presidency of the Oxford SU, I believe it is best for me to step down from the role. It has been an honour to be your President-Elect,' she posted.
Speaking to the TOI reporters from Heathrow airport before boarding a flight back home to India on Wednesday, she said, “Instagram was my campaign page so it got sent to everyone. You had to scroll down really far to see the posts. I don’t know who found them. I don’t want to judge others because I know how much it hurts to be judged”, she expressed.
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Bihar polls: Elaborate security measures in place for counting of votes on Nov 14
Patna (PTI): Elaborate security arrangements have been made for Friday’s counting of votes polled in the Bihar assembly elections, across 46 centres in 38 districts of the state, officials said.
Schools in Patna will remain closed on Friday in view of the counting exercise, they said.
Bihar had registered a historic voter turnout of 67.13 per cent in the elections to the 243-member assembly in two phases on November 6 and November 11. A total of 7.45 crore voters were eligible to decide the electoral fate of 2,616 candidates.
“Counting arrangements have been made in all the 243 assembly constituencies. The exercise will be conducted by 243 Returning Officers in the presence of 243 Counting Observers and the candidates or their agents.
“A total of 4,372 counting tables, each staffed with one supervisor, counting assistant and micro-observer have been set up. More than 18,000 Counting Agents appointed by the nominees will also oversee the process,” the Election Commission said in a statement.
Counting of votes will commence at 8 am on Friday.
“As per the Commission’s directions, postal ballot counting will begin first, and counting of EVMs will start at 8.30 am,” it said.
“Adequate number of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and personnel of the Bihar Police have been deployed across the state to ensure smooth counting, and prevent any untoward incident,” a senior officer said.
He said 106 companies of security personnel from outside the state have also been deployed.
A poll official said EVMs and VVPATs used in the elections have been sealed inside strong rooms under a double-lock system.
“A two-tier security has been ensured at the counting centres. While the inner tier has been assigned to the CAPF, state police have been deployed at the outer rung. Besides, 24/7 CCTV surveillance and other security provisions are in place,” he added.
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