The Yogi Adityanath government on Tuesday ordered a magiesterial inquiry into the violence on Banaras Hindu University campus on September 23. Government spokesperson and Power Minister Srikant Sharma confirmed the development.
On the night of September 23, the police canecharged hundreds of girl students at BHU gate where they were protesting against molestation of a fellow. The university authorities indulged in victim-shaming and tried to cover up for a general lack of security on campus. The protests turned violent when some miscreants indulged in vandalism and arson and police used force to quell the stir.
Several persons, including women and two journalists, were injured in police action.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Varanasi District Magistrate wrote to the registrar asking him to take immediate steps to address the concerns of girl students. Reports are also doing the rounds that the BHU V-C’s chair is now at risk for having failed to handle the situation.
The UP government finally intervened in the BHU incident a day after both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah asked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about the unsavoury incident.
The Power Minister said that the government wanted communication to be established among the students, local administration, Vice-Chancellor and BHU officials. He accused the opposition parties of trying to vitiate the academic atmosphere.
“If they (opposition) wish to do politics, they should do it with us and not with students. They should keep away from holding agitations on campuses,” Sharma said.
On the lathicharge on girl students agitating against eve-teasting on campus, he said: “We are identifying the outsiders who are using students for their politics and also the cops who resorted to lathicharge. The Varanasi district administration has been asked to strengthen security on the campus and install CCTV cameras on the campus.”