The students of Banaras Hindu University today staged an agitation in the national capital and termed the protest on the night of September 23 as an outburst after years of their sufferings going unheard.
The students accused the police of abruptly indulging in baton charge without making any announcements.
An undergraduate student of BHU, Mineshi Mishra, who claims to have been beaten up by the police alleged that gender sensitisation was non-existent on the campus.
Carrying bruises on her body, Mishra said that only outsiders felt bizarre to hear BHU vice chancellor's stereotyped statements, but insiders (students) were used to it.
"He had earlier made statements like - daughters are those who sacrifice their studies for that of their brothers," Mishra alleged, adding that the VC had looked down upon women studying late nights.
"He had also starkly said he knew how and what BA students study and they did not need libraries," the undergraduate student said.
Snubbing VC Girish Chandra Tripathi's theory of involvement of "outsiders" which caused the protest to escalate, she said, "The entire campus was on section 144 and lathicharge was done in the entire campus and none of the outsiders can get in."
Another student of the varsity who witnessed the police attack said the police personnel took action abruptly without any announcements.
A former student of BHU Prof Anand Pradhan, who took part in the solidarity protest, said it was an unprecedented attack on women students in the campus.
"Since 1996, BHU students elections have not taken place. Only with the existence of such bodies, students' issues would be taken up," Pradhan said.
Responding to the VC's statements on providing safety and freedom to students, JNUSU President Geeta Kumari said it was tricky to consider freedom and safety together.
"Ensuring safety without freedom of mobility of women is equal to putting them in jail," Kumari said.
The BHU students, who will be visiting Delhi University and JNU campuses to spread the word, demanded termination of the VC from his post, abolition of curfew timing, formation of gender sensitisation committee, equality in food for girls and boys, and installation of CCTV cameras, among others.
Scores of students and activists cutting across political affiliations took part in the protest that was followed by a candle light march.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
