11 February 2018

National

JNU Fines Students Rs 20,000, Withdraws Hostel Facilities For Protesting Against Modi’s ‘Pakoda’ Remark





Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has slapped a fine of Rs 20,000 and withdrawn hostel facilities of students who conducted a protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s controversial ‘pakoda’ remark.

According to a report by the Indian Express, JNU has slapped a fine of Rs 20,000 each on at least four student activists of the NSUI for alleged indiscipline, apart from withdrawing hostel facilities of one student and punishing the others with a hostel transfer.

Modi, in an interview, had said selling pakodas (deep-fried fritters) counts as employment.

In JNU, students on decided to sell pakodas to protest against the statement as well as compulsory attendance that has been introduced in JNU recently.

“There is prima facie evidence that you were involved in blocking the road near Sabarmati bus stand and at T-point near Administrative Block since , due to which inconvenience was caused to students, teachers, staff, visitors and schoolchildren. Vehicles carrying essential commodities to hostels, etc; were affected. Further, you were involved in forceful cooking of food at the protest site in spite of repeated requests from CSO (chief security officer) not to do this act. Moreover, you also forcefully laid an electric cable for screening of a movie at protest site at night. The above are acts of indiscipline and unbecoming of a student,” read an order by the Chief Proctor dated , as quoted by the Indian Express.