Manusmriti burnt in Delhi University, three students detained

Weeks after JNU students had a confrontation with the administration over burning of Manusmriti, students in Delhi University today burnt copies of the ancient text following which three of them were detained by police.

Activists of Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) and left-backed All India Students Association (AISA) burnt Manusmriti terming it to be a derogatory text for women.

While KYS burnt Manusmriti outside Hansraj college as a symbolic protest against the “casteist administration of the college” where one of its activists was assaulted on April 4 in the college allegedly in front of the principal, the AISA held the event at Arts faculty on the eve of birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar.

According to police officials, three students were detained at Maurice Nagar police station in view of law and order issue and were released later.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) rebels who left the RSS’ student outfit citing differences over its handling of the JNU row, had last month burnt a copy of Manusmriti despite the varsity administration denying permission for the same.

The university had issued show-cause notices to five students asking them to explain their position on the event.  However, no action has been taken against anybody in this regard.