Mumbai : Congress leader Shama Mohamed expressed solidarity with IIT-Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was removed as dean in the wake of a student’s suicide that triggered massive protests. I stand with Professor Doolla. If a student is caught cheating, it is normal to admonish him & ask him to leave the room. If the student was harassed due to his caste, he should have complained to the SC/ST department,” Mohamed said.
“I have not said a word against Dalits- I have only said that when any child is caught cheating, it is the right of the invigilator to admonish him. We can’t allow students to copy in an exam,” she said. Mohamed reiterated that students facing casteist slurs should complain to the relevant SC/ST departments. Wakode’s family alleged that he had faced institutional harassment and caste-based discrimination before his death. Student protesters also claimed that he faced severe pressure and threats of academic suspension.
After three days of student protests, Doolla was removed as dean, an action that came after IIT-B Director Professor Shireesh Kedare signed an 18-point charter of demands submitted by the protesting students.The students’ charter also seeks an independent investigation, a time-bound report, an open house with senior administrators and an apology over what they described as the public defamation of the student.
IIT-B issued an apology over its earlier communication regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of a student, saying that details about the events leading up to the incident remain under investigation by the authorities. “I have not said a word against Dalits- I have only said that when any child is caught cheating, it is the right of the invigilator to admonish him. We cant allow students to copy in an exam! I have also written that if casteist slurs are being used, the student must complain to SC/ST departments.
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