New Delhi: Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday said the decision to revoke the ban imposed by Indian institute of Technology (IIT) Madras on Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle (APSC) lies with the students` council of the institution, and added that such a move cannot be taken on the basis of a `whim` of a political organisation.
Reacting to the NSUI`s demand to withdraw the ban on the APSC for allegedly criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Irani said, "The students` council of IIT Madras decides what action has to be taken or what decision has to be taken. You cannot trample the rights of a democratically-elected student body in an institution just at the whim of a political organization."
On Friday, IIT Madras had justified its decision to ban the group, clarifying that the body was merely temporarily de-recognised for violating the guidelines of the institute.
The institute had earlier de-recognised the APSC over an anonymous complaint to the Central government that it was trying to spread hatred towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s policies by distributing provocative pamphlets and posters in the campus, igniting a massive controversy.
