ABVP forces K’taka professor to kneel down, apologise for ‘anti-national’ posts on FB

Controversy

In two Facebook posts, which have now been deleted, Sandeep Varthar had also apparently praised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

TNM Staff

Taking the law into own hands, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members on Saturday forced an assistant professor of a private engineering college in Karnataka’s Vijayapura to kneel down for his “anti-India” post, in presence of the police. The activists also demanded that he should be also suspended for his alleged “anti-national” posts. Sandeep Varthar, the assistant professor of civil engineering at Dr PG Halakatti College of Engineering and Technology, wrote on Facebook, purportedly criticising the BJP-led Centre for creating a war-like situation amidst the high tension that ensued between India and Pakistan since the Indian Air Force’s pre-emptive strike in Balkot on February 27.  In two Facebook posts, which have now been deleted, Sandeep had also apparently praised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Speaking to The Indian Express, college principal VP Huggi said that although Sandeep has not been suspended yet, he will be issued an order on Tuesday when the college reopens. According to IE, one of the posts read: “Who sounds more intelligent in all this? You… bhakts. You will [be] the reason for [the] destruction of millions of lives if this tension escalates. BJP… absolutely zero shame.” Vijaypura Additional SP BS Nemagouda confirmed the involvement of ABVP activists in the incident to TNM. However, the police said that they won’t be taking any suo motu action against the ABVP activists. Vijayapura SP Prakash Nikam told The Hindu, “We will take legal action against the lecturer and also the ABVP members, provided complaints are filed.” The college is owned by Karnataka Home Minister MB Patil. The minister could not be reached for comment. The Hindu also quoted Divisional convener of ABVP, Sachin Kulageri, as saying, “We are waiting for Patil to take action against the lecturer as a few days ago, he had issued a clear statement that persons giving anti-India statements would not be spared. We will wait for him to act and if nothing happens, we will file a complaint.”

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