NEW DELHI: After backlash on social media over Ambedkar
University
Delhi (
AUD
) imposing a
fine
of Rs 5,000 on a
student
for writing a
YouTube comment that was allegedly defamatory towards chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, deputy
CM
Manish
Sisodia
wrote to the principal secretary, higher education on Monday to cancel the fine. “This is not the vision I have for my country or any of our universities. If voices of criticism and dissent cannot be expressed against political leaders, we are no longer democracy but a dictatorship,” said Sisodia.
The deputy CM also called up the student and told her that he was going to make sure the fine gets cancelled as it was unfair, members of All India Students’ Association (AISA) said.
In his letter, Sisodia said that “no action should be taken against any student for expressing a viewpoint that is different from the government or the university, unless the statement damages the social fabric of our country or is against our constitutional values.”
He further said that if any student was expressing her viewpoint against the government, then it should have been first brought to the notice of the government before initiating any action.
“A university should be a safe space for students to freely voice their opinions, debate and develop their points of views. No student should be punished for exercising the right to free speech within the university space.”
The deputy CM stated that “if they do not allow students the opportunity to critique, to comment and to develop their own voice, we set up our country for a bleak future where people will lack courage to stand up against injustice.”
Sisodia asked the principal secretary to investigate the matter and make sure the student does not face any action for her remarks.
TOI had earlier reported about AISA member and 2nd year MA student Neha being fined after holding an “online protest” against the university’s fee hike and reservation policy during the varsity’s live broadcast of its December 2020 convocation.
“The people’s CM does not have the time to listen to the students, what alternative is the student left with? Fight the government, fight oppression or study, please help us out brother CM,” she had written with the hashtag #AntiStudentKejriwal.
AUD’s proctor office, in its June 30 order, stated that the student must pay a fine as punishment for her use of “slur and disrespectful remark.”
Neha told TOI on Monday that “Manish ji asked about my studies and said that if any problem arises, I could contact him directly.”
“We have withdrawn the fine,” said AUD’s public relations officer.