Smriti gives Urdu conference a miss
New Delhi: Smirit Irani gave the World Urdu Conference being held at North Campus, Delhi University, a miss but student groups protested regardless.
Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, All India Students' Association and Students' Federation of India had gathered across the road from the Conference Centre where Irani was supposed to inaugurate the conference organised by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language. They had come bearing placards on Rohith Vemula, the University of Hyderabad student who committed suicide, and other MHRD policies.
The students believe Irani's decision to not attend was influenced by their protests and stated their intention to gherao her. "Smriti Irani's backing off is a strong and clear message that the movement is on and strong. Smriti Irani and Dattatreya cannot be allowed to function normally after their shameful involvement and unrepentant attitude in the institutional murder of Rohith Vemula," says a statement from AISA.
NCPUL director, Syed Ali Karim-originally from DU's Urdu department-announced at the start that while Irani had "confirmed she was coming, she didn't confirm that she wasn't" and that the organisers will wait.