New Delhi, Feb 23 : Clashes at Ramjas College in New Delhi illustrate the growing threat to freedom of expression on Indian university campuses, Amnesty International India said on Wednesday. Hindu extremist Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad beat up and injured 20 Kashmiri students including Burhan Querishi studying in JNU New Delhi India when they were attending a seminar at Ramjash College Delhi.
Several people were injured in clashes between student groups at the college. Three journalists told Amnesty they were assaulted by members of the Hindu extremist group Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which is the RSS student wing.
On Tuesday, a seminar on ‘Cultures of Protest' organised at the college was cancelled after members of the ABVP obstructed the event. "Universities are supposed to be safe spaces for debate and discussion. But the events at Ramjas College are a shameful reminder of how intimidation and threats continue to restrict free speech on university campuses," said Aakar Patel, Executive Director at Amnesty International India. "Authorities need to protect academic freedom, which is crucial to the right to education. Delhi Police must ensure that students at universities can express their opinions without fear of repression by anyone."