AISA Says Mount Carmel Cancelled Panel After ABVP 'Threat'; ABVP Denies
AISA alleges Mount Carmel (Deemed-to-be University) scrapped a September 23 panel discussion after ABVP warnings; the ABVP's Bengaluru unit denies issuing any threat.
The All India Students' Association (AISA) in Bengaluru has alleged that Mount Carmel (Deemed-to-be University) called off a panel discussion that was to be held on its campus on September 23, after members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) warned the administration of protests if the event went ahead.
The discussion, titled "Gender Politics and the Media in the Fight for Equality", was to feature Aratrika Dey, a political activist and editor of Spark magazine; Alex, programme coordinator at Vimochana; and author and journalist Gita Aravamudan.
In a release, AISA said the ABVP had "threatened" the college administration over the invitation extended to what it described as "controversial speakers". The students' body condemned what it called repeated intimidation tactics aimed at disrupting democratic spaces on college campuses.
The ABVP's Bengaluru unit president, Abhinandan Mirji, denied that any threats had been issued. He said there had been internal discussions within the organisation about the event, but that nothing objectionable was found in it.
The university administration did not respond to a request for comment.