Right backs Left: ABVP opposes ‘abrupt and irrational’ ban on student body PSF by TISS
Mumbai (PTI): The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has come out in support of its ideological rival and Left-leaning student group at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) which has been banned by the premier deemed university, contending educational institutions should be bastions of free speech and democratic participation.
The ABVP said on Thursday that the "abrupt and irrational" banning of the student group risks causing significant unrest among such bodies.
Such a step could severely impact the integrity of future student council elections, a cornerstone of democratic process, noted the campus wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
On August 19, the TISS, a premier institute under the Union Ministry of Education, banned the Progressive Students Forum (PSF-TISS). It said the PSF has been engaging in activities that obstruct the institute's function and defame it.
The TISS also warned any attempt by the PSF to organise or participate in unauthorised events will be met with "immediate intervention and consequences".
The PSF has had several run-ins with the TISS administration in the past.
The ABVP said it firmly believes educational institutions should be bastions of free speech and democratic participation. The presence of various student organisations is essential for fostering a healthy discourse and ensuring that the diverse views of the student community are represented.
"The sudden and unjustified ban on student organisations at the TISS is a direct attack on these principles," ABVP secretary Nidhi Gala argued.
The Democratic Secular Students Forum (DSSF), a right-wing student body at the TISS, said a ban on campus outfits strikes at the heart of what makes the premier institute a leading academic body.
DSSF, in a statement, said these groups have always played a crucial role in ensuring that the voices of all students are heard and that campus remains a space for healthy democratic activism.
While DSSF acknowledges that student groups may have diverse opinions and ideologies, it believes these differences are essential for fostering a culture of critical thinking and debate, said the statement.
"DSSF has consistently opposed the non-democratic activities of PSF and its sympathisers and will continue to stand in opposition to all such activities. However, we do not support any action that violates the basic democratic rights of students," the statement added.
The TISS was established in 1936 as the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work. In 1944, it was renamed as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. In 1964, it was declared deemed to be a university under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act (UGC), 1956.
According to its website, since its inception, the vision of the TISS has been to be an institution of excellence in higher education that continually responds to changing social realities through the development and application of knowledge.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
