Published By: News Desk
News18.com
Last Updated: March 27, 2024, 19:54 IST
New Delhi, India
A screenshot of a clip from the university campus that surfaced on X.
Videos of Ashoka University students shouting casteist slogans surfaced on X on Wednesday, leading to reaction from former Infosys Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mohandas Pai and netizens. The university, through a statement, promised action.
The videos on X show students shouting slogans such as ‘We need caste census’ and ‘Brahmin-Baniyawaad Murdabad’.
Quoting the videos shared by one Anshul Saxena, Pai said: “This is very very shocking if true why is there so much caste hatred in @AshokaUniv? Will @sbikh Pl take action to stop such hatred, if true?”
He also tagged Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, asking the government to look into why such hatred prevails. “How can universities keep quiet?”
This is very very shocking if true why is there so much caste hatred in @AshokaUniv ? Will @sbikh Pl take action to stop such hatred, if true? @dpradhanbjp Govt should look into why such hatred prevails? How can universities keep quiet? https://t.co/7hEGtcNfvv— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) March 27, 2024
Another netizen Dhruv Tripathi said hateful slogans were raised against Brahmins and Baniya in Ashoka University on Tuesday.
Hateful Slogans were raised against Brahmins and Baniya in Ashoka University yesterday.The founders and donors of the university are mostly upper caste and slogans are being raised against them.
FIR should be registered against them.#Stop_Targeting_ब्राह्मण_बनिया pic.twitter.com/gfQ3nouqhr
— Dhruv Tripathi (@Dhruv_tr108) March 27, 2024
Internet entrepreneur and investor Sanjeev Bikhchandani, who was there at the university, said, “A bit of an overclaim. The protesting students came and stood outside the door of the class during the ten-minute break after the first hour of the class. They shouted slogans for two or three minutes and then went away.”
@sbikh Why the Hate slogans? Who is creating hate there? Which faculty is instigating hate? The slogans are the problem not protest. How can you normalize such hate caste based slogans? They can protest without such hate slogans? https://t.co/CJHmQ7X3Sy— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) March 27, 2024
To which Pai responded, “Protests are great but Hate caste slogans not ok. It creates fear and distress to others, divides people! VC should act and tell public action taken.”
Ashoka University attaches great value to freedom of expression and vigorous debate, but it also attaches great importance to mutual respect. The university deplores expressions of hatred directed against any individual or group.Ashoka University’s Guidelines on Protecting…
— Ashoka University (@AshokaUniv) March 27, 2024
The Haryana-based varsity, in its statement, said, “Ashoka University attaches great value to freedom of expression and vigorous debate, but it also attaches great importance to mutual respect. The university deplores expressions of hatred directed against any individual or group. Ashoka University’s Guidelines on Protecting Freedom of Expression have clearly laid down that such freedom of expression is not unlimited and enjoins respect for therights and sensibilities of others. This is essential to preserving the spirit of community at Ashoka. Actions that make the atmosphere intimidating, threatening or hostile to individuals or groups are therefore regarded as serious offences and are subject to University disciplinary procedure. The University will take all measures necessary to ensure that peace and harmony in the campus is not disturbed.”