u2018 Why is Mrs. Somaiya working with TISS?u2019 Students term Kirit Somaiyau2019s comments as attempt to gain mileage, wifeu2019s appointment as Tata Chair Professor an attempt to u2018 infiltrate the campusu2019 Continued from page 01 IN half- a- dozen recent instances, the same set of fanatic radical people are seen. We are only concerned about those. A common factor among them is TISS,u201d Somaiya told mid- day. He added that all such students belong to the Students Federation of India ( SFI) and that any organisation supporting Imam is a matter of concern. u201c Any studentsu2019 organisation has a limited role and certainly has no business commenting on democracy or issue press statements supporting Imam. As an individual they may, but not as studentsu2019 councils.u201d Students said that his comments are an attempt to gain lost political mileage. They also pointed to discrepancies in Medhau2019s appointment, calling it a well- planned infiltration of BJP functionaries after they came to power in the state.
Somaiya, who is the vice president of Maharashtra BJP, had termed the TISS Studentsu2019 Union as u2018 Urban Naxalite Radical Leftist Unionu2019 and said that he will seek police action against them based on u2018 evidenceu2019 he has.
TISS students are facing Mumbai policeu2019s heat amid the anti- CAA protests. Urvashi Chudawala, the queer student- activist booked for sedition for her slogans supporting JNU student Sharjeel Imam, is also a TISS student.
Responses to Somaiyau2019s attack have, however, been anonymous as students fear consequences.
u201c It is obvious that Medha is deeply involved with the BJP and its ideological institutions, and harbours political aspirations.
Questions over her credibility remain. Especially when very limited work of academic importance was produced. She has also been representing TISS at various platforms. She is said to be associated with TISSu2019s Delhi centre, although very little information is available on the nature and operations of this centre,u201d a statement from the students said.
The students also pointed out that Medha is attached to the School of Vocational Education established under the Skill India initiative. Kirit gets included in programmes organised by her as a special guest or speaker.
u201c It wonu2019t be incorrect to assume that their association isnu2019t solely for academic reasons,u201d the statement added.
Medha refused to comment on the matter.
u2018 Withdraw sedition case against pupilsu2019 Queer citizens of the city have opposed the sedition case against 51 people over slogans raised during Mumbai Pride on February 1 and demanded that the FIR against Urvashi Chudawala and others be dropped.
With 1,600 signatories, the statement has the support of queer and feminist groups like Nazariya Queer Feminist Resource Group, LABIA u2014 A Queer Feminist LBT Group, The Pink List, Queerala, Women and Transgender Orgs JAC, Hyderabad, Telangana Hijra Intersex Trans Samiti, Forum Against Oppression of Women, Saheli, WSS, Feminism in India, and Fem Positive.
u201c As allies and members of a community that fought against a colonial law, Section 377, we cannot support the persecution of LGBTQIA+ individuals under sedition u2014 another colonial law.
Pride has always been about protest and celebration.
u201c We will continue to stand up against the persecution of oppressed groups everywhere u2014 because, as queer people, we know what oppression looks and feels like,u201d the statement read.
A TISS studentsu2019 protest on Dec 16, 2019
