SFI screens BBC doc on Modi in UoH campus, ABVP retaliates with The Kashmir Files

HYDERABAD: The documentary by BBC on Prime Minister Narendra Modi titled ‘India: The Modi Question,’ which has been banned from screening by the Union government, was yet again screened in the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus here on Thursday.

It was screened by the left-affiliated student body Students’ Federation of India (SFI). In an instant retaliation, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) screened ‘The Kashmir Files’ on the campus.

Initially, both events were scheduled at the same venue and time — at 6 pm in the shopping complex, north campus. However, SFI changed the venue to a nearby location. Some ABVP members staged a protest against it at the main gate and raised slogans condemning the documentary. Police personnel were deployed on the campus to prevent untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, the documentary was screened without ncident or interruption from university officials.

According to a statement from the university, the dean, student welfare, had counselled the student groups and appealed against such screenings to prevent law and order issues and to maintain peace and tranquility in the campus, especially as semester exams were due to start next week.

"However, students decided to go ahead with their scheduled programmes. We have come to know that one group had the screening in one of the hostels. The campus is peaceful," read the statement issued by varsity registrar Dr Devesh Nigam.

On January 21, members of the student body ‘The Fraternity Movement’ had screened the documentary on the campus. The university officials sought a report as no prior permission was obtained for the screening.