PALLAVI SMART pallavi. smart@ mid- day. com THE teachersu2019 association of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences ( TISS) stood in solidarity with its students as they face the heat of the Mumbai Police. The association has formally issued an official statement of support condemning the sedition charges against Kris Chudawala, a student of TISS. The statement also requested support from the public at large against the constant attacks on the university.
The statement, which was issued on Saturday, called sedition an outdated law. The teachersu2019 association stood with its queer student, Chudawala, and termed the case against them a hate crime. The association claimed that a case had been filed against them on flimsy grounds, for slogans which were allegedly raised during a peaceful rally. The statement read, u201c The revealing of the identity of a young, trans student, who was only exercising their democratic right to protest, amounts to harassment and is tantamount to a hate crime.u201d The student community of TISS applauded their teachersu2019 move.
The teachersu2019 statement spoke about how TISS has always produced skilled and committed professionals in the social sector. It also said that TISS has helped execute several governmental policies, aimed at marginalized communities.
They regretted that their efforts have been devalued by projecting the institute as a space that promotes activities which undermine the nation.
They concluded the statement by saying, u201c We hope that all the citizens who stand by the Constitution and its values will join us in condemning these unwarranted attacks on individuals within the institution and on the institution itself.u201d Cops issuing notices Meanwhile, police officers at Nagpada started issuing notices to participants at Mumbai Bagh on Saturday. Mumbai Police issued notices to protestors under Section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code ( CrPC). Section 149 states that any police officer can intervene for the purpose of preventing a cognisable offence.
Cops have also started noting down the personal details of people joining the protest, such as addresses.
200 booked on obstructing being notices noted
addresses. On Friday, about 200 women protestors were booked by the Nagpada police on the grounds that they were obstructing road repair work being carried out by the BMC. u201c They have started issuing notices to protesters. They have noted the details of women who register,u201d said a protestor on condition of anonymity. u201c We suspect that the next step will be evicting protestors forcefully,u201d she added.
The police refused to comment when asked about the action taken against the protests.
Inputs by Anurag Kamble
