New Delhi: The screening of the BBC documentary on the Gujarat riots was cancelled on the Jamia Millia Islamia campus after the university administration allegedly refused permission to student groups on Wednesday and police detained at least four students. At least four members of the Left-affiliated Students' Federation of India (SFI) were detained by police after the students' group announced it will screen the controversial BBC documentary 'India: The Modi Question' on the Jamia Millia Islamia campus at 6 pm. The university administration, however, said no permission has been sought for the screening of the documentary and they "will not allow" it.
Police in blue riot gear and vans with tear-gas cannons were deployed at the gates of the varsity to avoid any untoward incident even as students alleged they were barred from entering the campus. Several students started protesting against it outside the varsity gates. "Four students have been detained for allegedly creating a ruckus outside Jamia Millia Islamia University over the screening of the BBC documentary today," Delhi Police said.
SFI Delhi State Committee identified the four students as Azeez (Jamia student and SFI Jamia Unit Secretary), Nivedya (Jamia student and SFI South Delhi Area Vice President), Abhiram and Tejas (Jamia students and SFI Unit members). The SFI's Jamia unit has issued a poster informing the documentary will be screened at 6 pm at the MCRC lawn gate no 8.
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When contacted, a Jamia official said, "They did not ask for permission for the screening and we will not allow the screening. If students go out of their way to do something then strict action would be taken against them." The University has also come up with a notice that states: "The University reiterates that no meeting of students or screening of any film will be allowed in the campus without permission. University is taking all measures to prevent people/orgs having vested interest to destroy the peaceful academic atmosphere here."
The attempt to screen the controversial documentary at the Jamia campus comes a day after a similar screening was organized at the Jawaharlal Nehru University during which students claimed that power and internet were suspended and stones were thrown at them. The controversial BBC documentary holds Prime Minister Narendra Modi "directly responsible" for the 2002 Gujarat riots. Modi was the Chief Minister of the western state at that point in time.
The Centre has banned the documentary calling it a ‘propaganda piece’ reflecting a colonial mindset. It has asked YouTube and social media handles to remove the documentary from the digital platforms. The BBC has defended their work calling it a "rigorously researched" documentary that sought to highlight important issues.
