From BHU to JU, Students Show Dissent Over CAA in Convocations

In the video, Singh, a student of MA (History of Arts), can be seen refusing the certificate.

Screen grab of the video.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@iyersaishwarya)

Rajat Singh, a student of Banaras Hindu University refused to accept his degree over the arrest of nearly 70 anti-CAA protestors in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Tuesday, 24 December.

In a video of the event, Singh, a student of MA (History of Arts), can be seen refusing the certificate and explaining the reason for his protest.

“I did not accept the degree because numerous students who protested against the CAA on 19 December were arrested. I oppose these arrests. I oppose the law. I oppose any law that attempts to divide the nation.”

Rajat Singh, Student, BHU

Further, Singh condemned the BHU administration for being indifferent towards the arrests. "The students who were supposed to be at the convocation are in jail and the university does not care about us. This is why I will not accept the degree," Sign added.

Amid the unrest over the CAA and the NRC, around 70 people were arrested and sent to jail on 19 December. Of the 70 arrested, 25 are from BHU.

The accused have been charged under Section 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting while being armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty), 341 (wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal code.

Student Tears Apart Copy of CAA While Receiving Degree at Jadavpur University

Meanwhile, student of Jadavpur University on Tuesday tore apart a page of a copy of the Citizenship Amendment Act while receiving her degree at the convocation ceremony, asserting that the gesture was her way of protesting against the contentious law.

Debosmita Choudhury, who identified herself as a student of the arts department, said she chose to "dump" the CAA document at the podium where the vice-chancellor, Pro-VC and registrar were seated, as it made bonafide citizens prove their nationality.

"Let there be no confusion. I am not showing any disrespect to JU. I am proud to be awarded this degree at my favourite institution. But, I chose this podium to register my protest against CAA... my friends are on a sit-in near the gate of the convocation venue," she said.