The Times of India, 6 Nov 2008
ABVP actvists ransack DU seminar venue, spit on SAR Geelani
PTI
NEW DELHI: A group of ABVP activists went on a rampage at Delhi University, vandalising the venue of a seminar in protest against the presence of
S A R Geelani, who was acquitted in the Parliament attack case. The protesters also spat on Geelani.
Around 50 youths damaged property and hurled abuses on Geelani at the seminar on 'Communalism, Fascism and Democracy Rhetoric and Reality' disrupting the programme briefly.
Shouting slogans, 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram', the student activists indulged in violence at the venue for about an hour even as over a dozen policemen present there remained mute spectators.
Trouble started just after Geelani reached the venue. An activist went up to the dais and spat on Geelani's face twice, saying 'shame, shame'. The ABVP activists then went on damaging the windows, doors, chairs and the microphone to disrupt the meeting.
However, the meeting continued despite the disturbance created at the venue.
"This is a trailer of fascism. The fact that we held the meeting shows that we succeeded to beat the fascist forces. Now the fascist forces are becoming strong in the country and are trying to suppress the democratic voice. We should not allow that to happen," Geelani said.
He asked the students to fight for democratic values and debunk efforts by forces to target certain individuals and terrorise a community.
Police later gathered in strength and detained about 20 activists.
|
