Karunanidhi calls for PM’s intervention in IIT Madras issue

Chennai: Slamming IIT-Madras for its decision to derecognise Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Sunday sought PM Narendra Modi’s “direct intervention” in revoking the order to ensure that “peace” returned to the premier technical institute. In a statement, he said based on an anonymous letter, the HRD ministry had “sidestepped natural justice” of seeking explanation from the persons concerned and banned the group which amounts to “stifling” freedom of expression.

Without naming Union HRD minister Smriti Irani, he said “unilateral” and “authoritarian” interference by Modi’s ministers on such issues will impact the youth and the nation’s peace. “Though it seems that PM Modi doesn’t place importance on needless issues like banning a democratic group, his ministers interfering unilaterally and in an authoritarian manner in such issues will impede youth’s thought process and affect the nation’s peace,” he said.

Mr Karunanidhi called for the PM’s “direct intervention” to ensure that the derecognition of Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle by IIT-Madras authorities was revoked immediately to ensure that peace and a healthy atmosphere prevailed in the institute. “Because of this incident, the otherwise peacefully functioning institute has turned into a war zone,” he said. DMK chief also asked if the AIADMK government, “by not making any explicit statement against the ban and remaining silent,” was supporting the Centre on the issue.