“I have frequently shared all the fake news around incidents, now I am becoming the victim of the same fake news.”Sandeep Wathar to The Quint
Before 2 March, Sandeep Wathar was just a professor of civil engineering at an engineering college in Bijapur, north Karnataka. But a post he shared on Facebook, allegedly in support of Pakistan PM Imran Khan made him the victim of an angry mob, led by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
It is important to note that the college, Dr PG Halakatti College of Engineering and Technology, is run by the not-for-profit Bijapur Lingayat District Educational Association (BLDEA) which is led by Karnataka Home Minister MB Patil. The minister had previously said that strict action will be taken against those who spread ‘anti-national’ messages on social media platforms. In this case, however, he contended that it was merely a case of ‘moral policing’ that shouldn’t have happened.
In a video that has since been widely shared on social media, Wathar can be seen kneeling before a mob, with his hands folded as he is jostled and berated. He later gets up and says, “I am sorry.” Wathar told The Quint that he didn’t want to apologise but was not given a chance to defend himself when the mob descended on him.
As for the police that can be seen in the video, Wathar says they didn’t do much.
“The police were there but they were standing quietly when the drama was going on. They didn’t try to help me in any way. At that time also, I didn’t want to apologise but I was overwhelmed.”Sandeep Wathar, Professor of Civil Engineering
What Was the ‘Objectionable’ Post?
“I had shared a video from Brut India in which they were showing Imran Khan’s interview in which Imran Khan is explaining actually if two nuclear states go into war, it will be the destruction of millions of lives. With reference to that same thing, I had written that “Who sounds more intelligent in this?” It was actually a question that I had asked. I didn’t ever say that Pakistan was more intelligent or India was more intelligent or anything like that. They took offence of it and they made a screenshot of that particular post.”Sandeep Wathar to The Quint
‘They Didn’t Have Knowledge of What I Had Written’: Wathar
Wathar went on to say that if the people had gone through the rest of his social media posts, instead of focusing on just one, they would have a better idea of how nationalistic, or not, he was.
He has filed a police complaint and said that he hopes that the truth will be out about his actual intentions.
“My colleagues were with me and rescued me from that situation. Even the college management tried to help me,” he said.
‘No Complaint by ABVP’: Principal
College principal VP Huggi said that an internal committee would be formed for the express purpose of investigating this incident. Contrary to earlier reports, a suspension order will not be issued against Wathar immediately, but he has been sent on a few days’ until the committee formed to investigate the incident completes its inquiry.
“They will investigate all the events, why they (the crowd) had come, what had he posted. The college is reopening college today and the first meeting might happen tomorrow. He will be teaching as usual, how can we fix him? We have to give a reason for suspension. ABVP has not given any complaint in writing, they have not objected officially. The professor has also not complained. We will also take legal advice.VP Huggi to The Quint
As of now, there is only a police complaint that Wathar has filed, but an FIR has not been registered. The ABVP has not lodged an FIR against the professor either.
‘No Right to Do Moral Policing’: Home Minister
Addressing media persons, Home Minister MB Patil said that moral policing was not acceptable.
“There is nothing wrong in what he has said, talking about the ill-effects of war. Nobody has the right to do moral policing. The law of the land is there and police will do an investigation,” he said.
However, an ABVP member who was part of the crowd that went to accost Wathar on Saturday, 2 March, said (on condition of anonymity) that it was actually the students who had called ABVP members when they wanted to confront Wathar about his Facebook post. “In north Karnataka, student politics is very active. Students are opinionated. They were the ones who told us about the post, they called us. Wathar has previously also held such opinions,” he told The Quint.
The ABVP member went on say that Wathar had earlier told students not to celebrate certain Hindu festivals because it was a secular college campus. He also apparently had told people off for wearing kumkum or vermillion to college.
“See, he has acknowledged he didn’t mean it, he had also apologised. Now, let us see what action is taken against him. I think an order of suspension will be issued against him,” he said.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)