IISc's UAPA talk cancellation: Student org opposes move

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru trying to prevent a talk on Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) continued to be opposed as more student organisations spoke up against it. All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) termed the “shut down” undemocratic.

The talk was organised on June 28 on the campus by Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, both civil society members, who were arrested under the UAPA in 2020 for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Critics hold that UAPA is a draconian law that arbitrarily declares organisations and even individuals as terrorists without a court convicting them of the same.

The organisers claimed that the talk was planned at the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) at IISc and that the same was approved by the CCE Chair. However, the permission was essentially withdrawn on June 28, citing lack of prior approval.

Defiant student organizers are said to have held an “informal interaction” on UAPA near a food court on the IISc campus, eliciting opposition from campus security.

Apparently, the talks were a three-part series. The first event was at International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) on June 26 and the second one was on June 29, both of which went as planned. Undemocratic, says AIDSO AIDSO State Secretary Ajay Kamath condemned the IISc administration for disallowing the programme.

“A discussion organised by students of IISc was undemocratically shut down by the institution authorities. Even the informal interaction was forcefully ended. AIDSO condemns this as an attack on democratic atmosphere in education institutions.

Educational institutions are supposed to be a battleground for discussions on issues concerning society. Schools of thoughts must come together and discussion seeking truth be encouraged. All the great men of science practiced this,” he said.

“Our premier institutions cannot remain alien to problems the country is afflicted with. To draw inspiration from all great men of science is to instill in students the spirit of inquiry, urge for seeking truth, and character to fight for justice. Thus IISc's action in force stopping the discussion on UAPA is an act to throttle democratic discussions,” he added.