I&B Ministry orders probe into IIMC caste war between students

NEW DELHI: The I & B ministry has ordered a probe into allegations made by a section of students at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, a premier journalism school, about derogatory remarks made on a blog by their peers from the same institute on Dalits, Dalit identity and caste-based reservation in educational institutes.

These posts termed as offensive by these students are mainly those questioning support for Rohith Vemula, the Dalit scholar whose suicide in Hyderabad last month triggered nationwide protests against caste discrimination on campuses.

The students have alleged that their classmates were running an online campaign against their support for Vemulla and were passing offensive remarks about people who get into institutes through reservation. These posts, one of them told ET, were circulating in social media since January 18.

The students have written to the IIMC administration which falls under the ministry and have also send a formal complaint to the National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

A senior official at the I & B ministry said the blog was brought to the notice of the ministry on Tuesday after which the probe was ordered. Joint Secretary Mihir Kumar Singh, who is also the administrative Joint Secretary for IIMC, has been asked to submit a report to the ministry in a week.

In his complaint to the National Commission of SC and ST, the main complainant and student of the institute Prashant Kanojia has said derogatory remarks by a fellow student caused “severe distress” among the Dalit and Adivasi communities.

Kanojia and a group of other students have also written a letter to the IIMC administration on Monday listing out the social media posts which have defended abusive and derogatory remarks made by those who opposed reservation.

IIMC officials too said the institute has set up a five member panel to probe into the issue. The students have, however, said they just want a public apology from the students and not punitive action against them.