Mumbai Students Protest As Summit With Mevani & Khalid Cancelled

FIRs filed against Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani & JNU student leader Umar Khalid for ‘inciting communal hatred’.

Following the Bhima Koregaon violence, the Mumbai Police denied permission to ‘All India Students Summit 2018’ that was to feature Jignesh Mevani and Umar Khalid.

(Photo: ANI)

FIRs were registered against Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani and JNU scholar Umar Khalid for allegedly inciting communal hatred. Police denied permission to conduct 'All India Students Summit 2018', scheduled to be held in Mumbai on Thursday. The event was supposed to be addressed by JNU student leader Umar Khalid and MLA Jignesh Mevani.

Two people have been killed and several injured after violence broke out across Maharashtra following clashes on 1 January at an event to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon near Pune. Right-wing leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide were slapped with FIRs, too, but they are yet to be arrested.

Police denied permission to conduct 'All India Students Summit 2018', scheduled to be held in Mumbai on Thursday. The event was supposed to be addressed by JNU student leader Umar Khalid and MLA Jignesh Mevani.

But permission was denied in the wake of the protests and bandh observed in the state yesterday following Bhima Koregaon violence in Pune.

If government feels that Mevani’s speech can vitiate public order in the state, it amounts to accepting his political strength and failure of the state machinery.

Sunil Tatkare, NCP Unit President

The event was organised by Chhatra Bharti, an independent student organisation which is not affiliated to any political party. Tatkare called the development an "attack on the freedom of expression".

Tatkare also condemned the violence that broke out on 1 January in Bhima Koregaon village and nearby areas in Pune district.

The caste clashes had occurred during an event to mark the 200th anniversary of the defeat of Peshwa troops by the British forces, comprising Dalit soldiers. The anniversary celebrations hold a major significance in Dalit narrative as the community views it as the defeat of "casteist" forces.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that the violence happened because of rumours on social media. According to Tatkare, the government should have taken steps to stop it.

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