CHENNAI: DMK Chief Minister Karunanidhi on Sunday said the de-recognition of Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle (APSC) by the IIT-M management is a suppression of right to expression and sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to withdraw the move to bring back peace and healthy education environment in the institution.
While it appeared that the Prime Minister was not giving importance to unnecessary issues, the ministers working under him were interfering in such issues in an autocratic and dictatorial manner, Karunanidhi said and warned that such actions would destroy peace in the country and distort the thinking of the young generation.
The APSC was de-recognised based on an anonymous letter and without seeking any explanation, he said and added that this had turned the IIT-M into a battleground with students protesting before the institution. Several political parties and organisations had condemned the IIT-M action, he said.
DMK treasurer M K Stalin too had condemned the move, while the party's student's wing had announced a protest on June 1, Karunanidhi said.
The APSC was formed with the objective of freely discussing and preparing students to spread progressive ideas for putting an end to caste discrimination, religious fundamentalism, blind beliefs and women's slavery, Karunanidhi said and cited DMK founder C N Annadurai's views asking students to work in such a direction.
The DMK leader also alleged that the Union Human Resources Ministry was triggering controversies frequently.