There has been increased attacks on universities after BJP government took to power. Maybe, this is because of rise in communal politics across nation after 2014. That is the reason why first JNU and now AMU students are being called ‘terrorists’ and ‘anti-nationals’ by media and politicians alike.
Actually, Republic TV journalist had reached AMU to cover BJP Yuva Morcha’s protest against AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi’s arrival in the campus. This protest was in turn being resisted by other students of AMU (Aligarh Muslim University).
Due to this, university students and Yuva Morcha workers came face-to-face. As a result, both of them got engaged in a clash. It is being alleged that during this, Republic TV journalist went on to give communal twist to the brawl.
Student leader Sharjeel Usmani said that the journalist said during live reporting that, “Right now we are in the university of terrorists.” Students objected reporter, who allegedly started abusing them after this. Then, students started beating up male camera-person and threw him out of the campus.
Usmani said that there were female reporters as well, and students didn’t do anything wrong with her. There have been allegations that there students misbehaved with female reporters, Usmani denies the claim.
Journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani has called it a planned strategy that is executed with the help of “media partners” just before 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
After speaking to more than a dozen teachers and students of AMU,I can safely say that ahead of general elections,this is a well-planned strategy-with the help of a ‘media partner’-to once again drag AMU into politics and turn it into a national controversy.
For detailed info- pic.twitter.com/5b4XKAlB0u— Arfa Khanum Sherwani (@khanumarfa) February 12, 2019
There was a FIR filed against 14 AMU students based on the allegations by BJP Yuva Morcha president. Republic TV journalist claim that the allegations against media house by AMU students is false.
This is ABSOLUTE LIES! I’m appalled at how this has been created out of thin air. I was MYSELF standing and reporting on a story that had NOTHING to do with AMU when the students began to heckle and threaten us. We weren’t even speaking to any student in the vicinity! https://t.co/jHuupm9nNK
— Nalini ? (@nalinisharma_) February 12, 2019
It is to note that sedition case was filed against 14 AMU students in this case. However, people are saying that a brawl with a person cannot amount to sedition. Some are saying that Republic TV is not government, then how can sedition charges be applied on AMU students?
