The Opposition on Monday expressed concern in the Rajya Sabha over alleged discrimination against female students in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) who were not being allowed to eat non-vegetarian food and use mobile and internet after 9.00 pm and claimed it reflected the “high-handed” attitude against students in Central Universities.
The Elders also claimed “political vendetta” behind the disappearance of Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU) student Najeeb Ahmed and demanded a CBI probe. The JNU authorities were not sensitive to the issue, they said. Ahmed is missing since October last year.
Among other issues to figure in the Upper House were the plight of former sportspersons, police atrocities against tribal people in Chhattisgarh and jawans of para-military forces taking to social media to air their grievances.
Raising the BHU issue, Ali Anwar Ansari(JD-U) said while boys can eat non-vegetarian food in hostels, the girls cannot do so. He also claimed that female students were not allowed to use mobile phones and internet facilities after 9.00 pm. They were not even allowed to enter the hostel after 8.00 pm, Ansari said and quipped the University orders were “Trump-like.” The JD-U leader further said the girl students had to take a written undertaking to follow these restrictions at the time of seeking admission.
Several MPs including Tapan Sen(CPM), Sharad Yadav(JD-U) and Anand Sharma(Congress) associated with Ansari, who also raised the issue of situation prevailing in JNU alleging “high-handedness” when 15 students were suspended for protesting against a notification. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Government does not interfere in day-to-day functioning of universities and the issue should not be politicised.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Vivek Gupta said “political vendetta” was behind Ahmed’s disappearance following a clash with some students on October 16 and asked the Government whether any special measures have been initiated to trace the missing student. The TMC leader also demanded a CBI probe.
Drawing the attention of the House to the plight of former sportspersons who brought laurels to the country, Nadimul Haque (TMC) highlighted the poor financial condition of several players. Almost the entire Rajya Sabha backed his assertion and Prem Chand Gupta (RJD) sought a discussion on the issue.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien also expressed concern over the fate of sportspersons.
The House witnessed heated exchanges between the Opposition and Treasury benches after Congress member B K Hariprasad demanded dismissal of the Chhattisgarh Government over alleged atrocities against tribals and locals, including rape and molestation, committed by security forces.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu countered the charges saying Zero Hour cannot be allowed to be used to make sweeping statements and defaming forces who are doing a difficult job by staking their lives. Kurien said for the misdemeanors of some individuals, the entire force cannot be blamed.
Partap Singh Bajwa(Congress) sought urgent steps by the Government to address the issues flagged by some para-military force jawans in social media. He said security personnel were performing their duties in tough conditions and took to social media as their grievances were not heard.