NSUI stages protest to demand Smriti Irani's resignation </br> </br> Congress students' wing NSUI today staged a protest outside Shastri Bhavan here demanding immediate resignation of HRD Minister Smriti Irani after court took cognisance of a complaint filed against her for allegedly giving false information about her educational qualification. "We want the immediate resignation of Smriti Irani. The education minister of the country having a question mark on her educational degree is a huge disgrace. We want the government to remove Irani the way Delhi government removed its former minister Jitender Tomar," said Delhi Youth Congress President Amit Malik, who also took part in the protest. They also burnt her effigy outside the building in which her office is located. "We consider this as a dark day in the history of this country that the education minister herself is being probed for her fake educational qualifications," said Amrish Ranjan Pandey, national spokesperson of NSUI. (PTI)
1. HRD Minister Smriti Irani hit back after NSUI members protested in front of her residence in New Delhi. Irani tweeted: “next time fight ur battles ur self don’t hide behind NSUI. N by d way I’m b returning to Amethi soon. See you there. (sic)” In another tweet, she said: “give me a time n place n I’m ready to debate everything re governance including education.”</b></b> (Image Caption: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi with NSUI delegation at 10 Janpath in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI))
2. “Free speech is our right. We will fight any attempt to crush dissent and debate,” Rahul Gandhi’s office tweeted. “IIT student group banned for criticizing Modi Government. What next?”</b></b> (Image Caption:Police detain National Students' Union of India (NSUI) activists during a protest outside the residence of HRD Minister Smriti Irani in New Delhi on Friday over the ban on an IIT-Madras students group for allegedly criticizing PM Narendra Modi. (PTI))
3. HRD Ministry on Friday said the institute had taken the decision according to its “own procedure and guidelines”. It added, “The action has been taken as per the guidelines of the institute. The HRD Ministry had nothing to do with this except for forwarding the complaint received to Director, IIT Madras for comments.”. IIT Madras itself said, “As per the guidelines in force, students bodies can’t use the name of IIT-Madras or its official entities in any capacity, to publicise their activities or garner support, without official permission. This group has violated the guidelines. Normally, violation of guidelines leads to temporary derecognition pending presentation of their stand to the Board of Students. In this case also, the same procedure was followed.”</b></b> (Image Caption: Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi meeting with NSUI delegation at 10 Janpath in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI))
4. Smriti Irani backed IIT Madras’ action, saying the institution has clearly stated that some procedures were not followed by the students’ organisation and that it knew that the Dean will derecognise it for violating norms.</b></b> (Image Caption: Police detain National Students' Union of India (NSUI) activists during a protest outside the residence of HRD Minister Smriti Irani in New Delhi on Friday over the ban on an IIT-Madras students group for allegedly criticizing PM Narendra Modi. (PTI))
5. An APSC member said it has been taking a stand against caste discrimination, Hindi imposition and beef ban. “Our administration is already filled with regressive forces supporting superstitions and events against theory of evolution within the campus. The APSC brought out pamphlets against the attempt to spread such lies in institute. Dean of students told us that Brahmanical rituals and caste system cannot be criticised as it hurts the sentiments of caste Hindus. He went on to say that even scientific research if it hurts the sentiments of a huge chunk of people should not be pursued and published,” he said.</b></b> (Image Caption: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi during the NSUI National Convention at Mavalankar Hall on 28th may. 2015. Express photo))
