சல்மான் ருஷ்டியை பாராட்டிய லெக்சரர் மீது ஆந்திர போலீஸ் வழக்கு

அல்குவேதாவை எதிர்த்தும் ருஷ்டியை ஆதரித்தும் பேசியதற்காக ஆந்திர பிரதேசத்து கல்லூரி லெக்சரர் ஒருவரை ஆந்திர போலீஸ் கைதுசெய்திருக்கிறது.

College lecturer held for ’controversial’ remark
Staff Reporter

Photo: Satish H.

Raging row: Students of St. Ann’s College protesting against a remark by a lecturer in Hyderabad on Friday. -

HYDERABAD: A lecturer’s reported comment on writer Salman Rushdie in a political science class sparked off a controversy at St. Ann’s College for Women with students agitating here at Mehdipatnam on Friday.

Though the lecturer Prashanti later apologised for hurting the sentiments of some students, the incident took a serious turn when one of them lodged a complaint with the Asifnagar police leading to her arrest.

N. Madhusudhan Reddy, West Zone DCP, told The Hindu that a case was registered under Section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of Indi an Penal Code. The lecturer was later produced before a magistrate at the latter’s house.

Objection raised

Ms. Prashanti was reportedly talking about the knighthood bestowed by the British Government on Mr. Rushdie when a debate ensued between her and the students in the B.A. second year class on Thursday. The topic drifted to a controversial book written by the author and religion. The students raised objection over the way the lecturer allegedly supported Mr. Rushdie. On Friday, the students complained to college Principal Fatima Rani that the lecturer’s remark was objectionable.

They alleged the lecturer also referred to a newspaper report about the terrorist outfit Al-Qaeda during the discussion the day before. “Ms. Prashanthi apologised to the students after I summoned her. But someone rang up the press which rushed to the college making it a big issue,” the Principal explained.

Meanwhile, MIM legislators Afsar Khan and Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri, TRS Member of Legislative Council Rahman and TDP leader Shabaz Khan, accompanied by their supporters, came to the college. Parents of the students too rushed to the college. as some TV news channels began running scrolls about tension building up in the college.

Police had to rush additional forces, including a woman contingent of Rapid Action Force. , and appeal to the media not to air news without confirming them. Angered over police not registering the case, the students started raising slogans.