Student groups protested outside Mumbai University`s (MU’s) Kalina campus on Friday in support of a Buddhist monk, Bhanteji Vimamsa, who is a student of the varsity.
The protest was held over the alleged altercation with the monk on Monday, when Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was present at the Kalina campus on the occasion of MU Teachers` Awards and the bhoomi pujan of the Prakrit Pali Centre.
The student groups have alleged that Bhanteji Vimamsa was denied a meeting with the minister and he was allegedly assaulted and humiliated by the MU administration. They also claimed that a false first information report (FIR) was filed against him by the police.
The alleged incident took place when Bhanteji Vimamsa was on a 28 day-long agitation, demanding that MU’s Pali Department get the `aided` status.
“It appears that the university administration is violating the Public University Act and UGC guidelines. A minority student, despite having permission, sought to meet the Union Minority Minister. Instead of respecting this right, the administration assaulted the student, who is a Buddhist monk, spread a false narrative, and even filed a false FIR. This is a highly condemnable act on the part of the university administration,” stated Advocate Gangurde Santosh, the state general secretary of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) students’ wing.
Meanwhile, MU, in a detailed response on the allegations, stated, “Bhante Vimamsa, a PhD student in the Marathi department of Mumbai University, has been protesting for his various demands at the Kalina Complex for the past few days. In this regard, he was informed by the university administration in a letter on August 21 that his protest is illegal.”
The university also claimed that on August 26, the registrar, on behalf of the administration, invited Bhanteji Vimansa or Rajesh Janardan Balkhande for a discussion over his demands at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan.
“However, he refused, following which the registrar and senior inspector of BKC (Bandra-Kurla Complex) Police Station, Mr Padvi, and the security officers went to the hunger strike site to meet him. They tried their best to convince him, but he continued his protest without listening to their pleas,” the university further stated.
Thereafter, a meeting was organised with the MU’s Vice-Chancellor on September 11. “In this meeting, Police Inspector Mr Padvi and security officers, as well as some dignitaries of the university were present. There was a positive discussion on the various demands for about one-and-a-half hours. However, when the meeting was going on, he left the meeting without listening to anyone,” the university claimed.
The varsity administration further stated that on Monday, the foundation stone-laying ceremony and the University Award Distribution Ceremony of the `Varasa Language and Cultural Studies Centre of Excellence` building were organised at the Kalina Complex at 10 am.
“Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju came as the chief guest for the ceremony. Around 10.50 am, after the completion of the foundation stone-laying ceremony at Bhasha Bhavan, the Hon`ble Minister`s convoy was going towards the Green Technology Hall, when the said student jumped over the protective wall of Anna Bhau Sathe Hostel and lay down on the road. Security Officer Shri Balasaheb Kharat went to the spot and tried to convince him to vacate the road. However, the student kicked the security officer in the stomach. He also kicked other security guards. The student was sent to the nearby BKC Police Station in a university vehicle. The report that he was beaten up at this time is completely false and misleading,” the university stated.
