Presidency University expels two students for allegedly defacing Vivekananda poster
The university barred a current student and a former student from future admissions following an inquiry into the defacement.
Presidency University in Kolkata has expelled a current student and a former student for allegedly defacing a poster of Swami Vivekananda on campus, according to reports by The Hindu and The Indian Express.
The incident occurred after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) alleged that a poster featuring the image of Swami Vivekananda was defaced with derogatory remarks on October 14. The ABVP had filed a police complaint and staged a protest regarding the matter.
A five-member university committee investigated the incident by reviewing CCTV footage and hearing from various stakeholders. The university confirmed the involvement of two female students from the sociology department, one of whom is a current final-year post-graduate student and the other an ex-student.
Registrar Debajyoti Konar stated that the university stands for dignified academic discourse and will not tolerate abuse directed at any thinkers, ideas, or organisations. The two students have been barred from all academic activities and are ineligible for admission to any future degree programmes at the university.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) condemned the expulsion, stating the administration has established a dangerous precedent that threatens the academic lives of the students. SFI secretary Ushasree Mitra denied that the Left-affiliated group was involved in the incident.
The ABVP welcomed the decision, with unit president Mridul Banik alleging that Left-wing student organisations had instigated the students. ABVP State Media In-charge Ananta Barui said the group would stand against such incidents if they are repeated.