Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath has said that he has taken strict cognizance of the violence that erupted in BHU late on Saturday night (23rd September 2017). He blamed miscreants for instigating the violence and while he said that such elements will be dealt with strongly, he instructed the BHU administration to display sensitivity while dealing with students.
He has ordered the BHU administration to establish a line of communication with the students since the solution to such issues can only come from dialogue.
The Chief Minister also said that the FIRs, that were lodged against the students of the university, will be dropped once the students return to BHU post Dussehra.
Speaking to reporters at the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur on Tuesday, Yogi said that the responsibility to investigate the BHU incident had been given to the commissioner and ADG, who have already filed their report. On the basis of the report, action has already been initiated against the additional city magistrate, one deputy superintendent of the police, and one SHO.
He asserted that the UP government had already ordered a Magisterial enquiry, pending completion. The government has also taken a strict view against the lathicharge on students and journalists.
Yogi also said that the report of Magisterial enquiry will be forwarded to the central government since BHU is a central university and any action against its administration falls under the purview of the central government.
Reports emerged yesterday that pointed towards opposition parties hijacking the BHU protests, thereby adding fuel to fire. Yogi Adityanath said that nothing better can be expected from an opposition devoid of constructive issues, and they were using the BHU incident to distract the central and state government from focusing on their agenda of development.
Violence had engulfed the Banaras Hindu University on 23rd September after a woman student of the Arts faculty complained about harassment by three men on a motorcycle who later fled the scene. The BHU students have been protesting since Thursday against the rising incidents of molestation on campus.
On Sunday, the police deployed additional 1500 personnel to maintain law and order on the campus. Violence had erupted after some people tried to make their way to meet the Vice Chancellor “forcibly”. The Vice Chancellor has also blamed anti social elements from outside the university for the incident in which several students, policeman and journalists were injured. Taking moral responsibility of these developments, the chief proctor of the university offered his resignation, which was accepted.