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Several student groups conducted a protest rally in Savitribai Phule Pune University on Thursday noon against the violence on campus that occurred on Wednesday, November 1.
SFI (Students’ Federation of India), NSUI (National Students’ Union of India), Nationalist Students Congress (both, Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions), New Socialist Alternative, Vanchit Bahujan Yuva Aghadi and several others conducted “a consolidated protest rally and mass membership-registration drive of all like-minded student groups against violence and tyranny of ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) on campus”.
SFI is the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), NSUI of Indian National Congress, Nationalist Students Congress of Nationalist Congress Party and ABVP of Bharatiya Janata Party.
Over 200 students gathered to protest at the Refectory where a brawl had occurred between ABVP and SFI members a day before. At least five students had been injured in the incident and both groups filed FIRs against each other at the Chaturshringi Police Station.
SFI state president Somnath Nirmal said, “An atmosphere of fear gets created among students when such incidents occur. The message we want to send out to groups indulging in violence is that intimidation tactics will not work. That is why it was important for us to gather today.”
“We demand that those who attacked the SFI members yesterday be booked under the SC/ST Atrocities Act and prompt action be taken by the university administration as well,” said Akshay Kamble, NSUI representative.
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Protesting students marched to the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar on campus and ended it at the main building. Registrar Prafulla Pawar and pro vice chancellor Parag Kalkar met with the students and assured them of prompt action against whoever would be found guilty.
“A university is an educational space for exchange of ideas,” said Rahul Sasane of Vidyarthi Sangharsh Kriti Samiti, one of the participating groups. “Our university has been home to innumerable distinguished persons and has a high reputation. Here, all students and student organisations need to work in a peaceful and constitutional way. We cannot tolerate violence on campus.”
ABVP had also held a protest rally following the incident on November 1 “against hooliganism on campus”.
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