SFI members detained after protest over ABVP leader’s participation at NIT-T event

Trichy: Tension prevailed for a while at NIT Trichy on Saturday morning as a group of SFI members undertook a protest outside the campus and some of them tried to barge in, protesting the participation of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) national organising secretary Ashish Chauhan at an event there. Police detained the protesters.The protesters gathered in front of the main gate and raised slogans alleging that the event was an attempt to "saffronise" the education system. At that time, some of them tried to jump over the main gate. Police intervened and detained them. Police sources said the outfit did not obtain permission for the protest. The institute and SHODH, a research platform, are organising a two-day conference on ‘Emerging Multidisciplinary Research Trends and Advanced Methodologies for Viksit Bharat 2047'. While Union minister of state L Murugan was the chief guest and addressed the gathering through videoconferencing, Ashish Chauhan attended the event as guest of honour. Chairman of the board of governors of NIT Trichy Amogh Kumar Gupta, director G Aghila, and V Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras, were also present. In his address, the minister said, "The central govt is moving towards making India a developed nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working to realise the aspirations of the people for what India should be like over the next 25 years. India will become the third-largest economy by 2027 and the world's leading economic power by 2047." Around 180 participants are expected to present their research papers at the conference.