NEW DELHI: Amid protest by students, one of the premier media institutes in the country defended its invitation to the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bastar, SRP Kalluri on Saturday to take part in a seminar on journalism.
Amid tight police security and students shouting “Kalluri Go Back” against the controversial IPS officer who was transferred from Bastar based on allegations about human rights violations in his tenure.
Kalluri, allegedly during his tenure as the Bastar IGP, was at the centre of controversies for his alleged high-handed style and human rights violations in the Naxal-affected region.
K G Suresh the Director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) said that there is nothing wrong in inviting Kalluri and that there are only few student of the institute who are protesting, rest are outsiders and will not be allowed. The IIMC also decided to conduct a havan or Yajan (ritual) before commencing the seminar.
"Because of the Havan, there was talk that secularism of the country was in danger. But fools have to know that in the past we had accommodated all the religions in the country. Lighting lamps in an event, Bhoomi Pooja (prayer to land) happen everywhere, why not this? Even Muslims can perform Namaz, Sikhs can take up their rituals on the campus," said Suresh in his address in the seminar.
Delhi police and security personnel were deployed outside the campus since early morning. Police officials who barricaded the gates said the institute was closed for the day.