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ABVP Seeks Permanent Block on Umar Khalid Documentary Screening
ABVP is a student organisation that wants a documentary screening at a law university to be cancelled permanently.
The documentary is about activist Umar Khalid.
The screening was postponed because organisers cited security and administrative reasons.
ABVP says the postponement was only meant to quiet public criticism.
It has asked the Union government to investigate the university and the event organisers.
ABVP also wants the government to stop the documentary from being shown, filmed or promoted on campus.
The organisation says universities should protect national security and institutional integrity.
It also acknowledges that academic discussion and free expression are constitutional rights.
The report does not say that the government has made a final decision on the screening.
ABVP asked the Union government to permanently cancel a proposed documentary screening at the National Law School of India University.
The documentary, “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present,” was postponed over security and administrative reasons, according to organisers.
ABVP called the postponement a tactic to reduce public opposition and sought a high-level inquiry into the university administration.
The organisation said it had sent representations to Amit Shah, Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Ram Meghwal.
ABVP called for guidelines preventing publicly funded university infrastructure from being used for what it described as “anti-national narratives.”
- Who
- The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the National Law School of India University, the event organisers and the Union government are involved; the documentary concerns activist Umar Khalid.
- What
- ABVP sought permanent cancellation of a proposed documentary screening and a high-level inquiry into the university administration.
- Where
- The proposed screening was at the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru.
- When
- The request was reported on Monday, September 14; the year is not specified in the articles.
- Why
- ABVP cited concerns about national security, sovereignty, institutional integrity and what it called anti-national political narratives.
ABVP’s position
Organisers’ stated rationale
Reason for postponement
ABVP’s position
ABVP alleged that postponing the screening was a stalling tactic intended to allow public outrage to subside.
Organisers’ stated rationale
The organisers said the screening was postponed because of security and administrative reasons.
Academic freedom and campus use
ABVP’s position
ABVP said publicly funded university infrastructure should not be used for what it calls anti-national narratives and argued that national security, sovereignty and institutional integrity must take priority.
Organisers’ stated rationale
The organisation acknowledged that open discussion and academic freedom are constitutional rights, but the articles do not provide a detailed response from the organisers on the screening’s content or campus use.
Key facts
- Organisation
- Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), an RSS-affiliated student organisation
- University
- National Law School of India University in Bengaluru
- Documentary
- “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present”
- Director
- Lalit Vachani
- Screening status
- Postponed, with organisers citing security and administrative reasons
- Requested action
- Permanent cancellation of campus filming, screening or promotion and a high-level inquiry
- Representations sent to
- Amit Shah, Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Ram Meghwal
Quotes
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Bengaluru
The Bengaluru unit of the RSS-affiliated student organisation that issued the demands
“ABVP maintains that educational institutions of national repute cannot serve as platforms for political propaganda centered around an individual linked to anti-national slogans during the 2016 JNU controversy, Afzal Guru commemorations, and provocative mobilization during the CAA-NRC protests and 2020 Delhi riots.”
telegraphindia.com
theprint.in
Sources
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