Bengaluru: A Protestant seminary in Bengaluru, southern India, witnessed heavy police presence on August 14 after students owing allegiance to Hindu radicals tried to storm it.
More than one hundred members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP, All India Students’ Federation) tried to break open the gate of the United Theological College (UTC) accusing the Christian institution of allowing a program inside its campus that gave leverage to anti-India participants.
“We have received a complaint and video footage from the ABVP alleging that a group of Kashmiri participants raised anti-national slogans claiming atrocities by Indian Army,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Suresh Kumar told press persons in Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka state.
“We are yet to examine the video footage and will take necessary action after investigating” said the police officer, who rushed with additional police personnel to the otherwise serene UTC to avert violence.
The police were however unable to prevent the activists from blackening the imposing ‘United Theological College’ signage that is a prominent landmark in the eastern suburb of Bengaluru. The activists mouthing pro-India slogans in Hindi and Kannada also destroyed a few garden lampposts.
The event ‘Broken Families’ organized by Amnesty International (AI) at the UTC premises had invited a few families from Kashmir to highlight the plight of the people in the trouble-torn state of northern India.
Tanmayi, an d ABVP activist, told the media “We will not allow this to happen in Bengaluru. We want the city police to answer who allowed the organization to hold this event.” The protestors demanded immediate arrest of the participants and strict action against the college management which organized the program.
Although the organizers received permission to hold the event, DCP Suresh however said “It is an indoor program and does not require police permission.”
The program aimed at highlighting human rights’ violations in Kashmir, India’s northernmost region. However, the several arguments, slogan and counter-slogans broke out during the event, the activists alleged.
Three families from the valley were to speak about alleged human rights violations by the armed forces as a part of Amnesty’s Broken Families’ campaign in Bengaluru. The event also included a performance by Kashmiri rapper Roushan Illahi who goes by his stage name MC Kash. The performance was however interrupted by sloganeering.
A statement released by Amnesty International India reads:
“Amnesty International India as a matter of policy does not take any position in favor of or against demands for self-determination. However, Amnesty International India considers that the right to freedom of expression under international human rights law protects the right to peacefully advocate political solutions that do not involve incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.”
Tara Rao, Programs Director, Amnesty International India, held ”It is important that media attention to the conduct of some of those who attended the event not serve as a distraction from the important issues of the denial of truth and justice to those who have suffered in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Ananth Kumar, a Member of Parliament of the Bharatiya Janata Party and former Chief Minister of Karnataka B S Yediyurappa told media persons that no form of protest that threatens the unity of India should be tolerated. Voicing opinion over the protests from New Delhi Congress Leader Gulam Nabi Azad said “Youth should be engaged in their studies and in contributing to the stability and unity of the country instead of working against the country”.
Karnataka’s Home Minister G Parameshwaran who was apprised of the ABVP protests said “Action will certainly be taken against anyone who indulged in anti-India activity and will be dealt with seriously after proper investigations are done.”
The protests drew much public and media attention as they occurred on Pakistan’s Independence day and the eve of India’s Independence Day.
UTC was founded in 1910 and is affiliated to the nation’s first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University).
Since 1976, it has been granted the status of an autonomous college under the University. The college has welcomed world leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi who visited it in 1927.
It was here that the Indian nationalist leader declared, “To live the gospel is the most effective way…I can say that the life of service and uttermost simplicity is the best preaching.”
India Post released a centenary commemorative stamp in honor of the UTC in 2011.