New Delhi: Today in Delhi there was a demonstration call given by BAPSA at Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in support of TISS Students. While the protesting students were detained at Parliament Street Police Station for no reason as such (some were injured, roughed up), but thankfully the police incharge at the end allowed (and helped) us to meet the ministry. BAPSA President Thallapelli Praveen submitted a memorandum to Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, on behalf of TISS Students’ Union and BAPSA.
It seemed that Union Minister Gehlot did not know much about the TISS issue, contrary to what the Institute says that they have been meeting ministries and negotiating etc. etc.
We informed the Minister that the ministry is required to release the GoI-PMS scholarship amount due to the institute as well as the students. Also, that they should increase the amount so that TISS students are able to compensate the high fees with scholarship money.
Minister initially responded by saying that there must have been some procedural issues at the end of the Institute or the students, that is why the ministry did not release funds. When we further argued, he assured that his office will look into the matter and release the fund as soon as possible.
We informed him about the strike in all four TISS campuses and the hunger strike by Hyderabad students. He said there is no need to go on strike. When we asked him if he can give a statement in media or can talk directly with the TISS admin, he indirectly refused.
Now, we should demand the Institute to release the correspondence with the ministry. If at all there was any!
https://countercurrents.org/2018/03/01/tiss-agitation-bapsa-protesters-detained/