Statement Issued by the Tamilnadu State Secretariat of the CPI(M) on May 29, 2015:
The Ambedkar – Periyar Study Circle (APSC) is a recognized voluntary body of students that has been functioning on the IIT Madras campus. The Dean of Students at IIT Madras (IITM) has cancelled the recognition given to APSC for its criticism of the economic and social policies of the RSS and BJP.
The ministry of human resource development (MHRD) of the central government had sought an explanation from IITM on an anonymous letter sent by the Sangh Parivar concerning a leaflet issued by the APSC regarding an event in which Dr. R.Vivekananda Gopal of Kuppam University in Andhra Pradesh had taken part on the occasion of the birthday of Dr. Ambedkar. Immediately, the Dean of students at IITM has cancelled the recognition given to APSC. The Secretariat of the Tamil Nadu unit of the CPI(M) strongly condemns this action.
During the last one year after the formation of a government at the centre led by the BJP, Sangh Parivar organizations have been carrying out ferocious attacks on freedom of expression, alternative views and democracy. RSS-BJP and their associate organizations have been engaging in such actions as attacking media and journalists personally in a targeted manner, attacking television stations, threatening those who criticize the Sangh Parivar in the print media and on television, and tying to silence them and putting pressure on them to quit. It is in continuation of such actions that the IITM has cancelled the recognition given to APSC. The IITM administration should immediately restore the recognition given to APSC. Action should be taken against the Dean who cancelled the recognition of APSC without any inquiry and simply on the basis of Sangh Parivar organizations anonymous letter. The CPI(M) Tamil Nadu State Secretariat appeals to all democratic movements, political parties and the public to come forward to condemn such uncivilized, anti-democratic and antediluvian actions.