After a large-scale protest at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), followed by police lathicharge, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a report on the incident from the divisional commissioner. The lathicharge left several students, including women and two journalists injured. Attacking the BJP government, Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU,”
The protest was made by a group of students who had staged a sit-in at the main gate of the university following the molestation of a student by three motorcycle-borne men on the campus. The protestors were allegedly lathicharge by the police on Saturday night.
However Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice-chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi has alleged involvement of outsiders in the incident and said that the protest was “planned because of Prime Minister’s visit.”. He further claimed that the authorities had prior information that “some anti-social elements will try to disturb the environment of the university”.
Terming the incident of alleged sexual harassment as unfortunate he said they were committed to stringent action.
Meanwhile, the youth Congress members in Delhi protested against the alleged lathicharge on BHU students. While the Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas condemned the police action on protesters and lamented that it took place “when the Prime Minister and the chief minister were in the same city”.
Condemning the lathicharge, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said “The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge.”