SFI screens BBC series at Hyderabad, Jadavpur varsities; ABVP counters it with 'The Kashmir Files'

The controversy around the BBC's two-part series on the 2002 Gujarat riots and Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to hog the limelight on the Republic Day with the Students Federation of India (SFI) organising screenings at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) and Kolkata's Jadavpur University.

The Congress too conducted screenings in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. 

This is the second time the screening in being organised in the UoH, also called the Central University. Earlier, the students group 'The Fraternity Movement' organised the screening of the BBC documentary "India: The Modi Question" on January 21. The varsity officials had then said the screening was organised without seeking permission.

However, the SFI had made a prior announcment about the screenings. According to a Twitter post by the organisation, over 400 students turned up for the screening. "Glimpses from the successful screening of the documentary 'India: The Modi Question' organised by SFI HCU on the Republic Day following the call of SFI CEC. More than 400 students turned up for the screening, rejecting the false propaganda and the attempts of ABVP to create unrest and the administration to disrupt the screening of the documentary. SFI-HCU salutes the student community who have stood for freedom of expression and campus democracy," the post read. 

However, the ABVP countered the move by organising the screening of 'The Kashmir Files,' on the campus on the same day. The Bollywood film depicts the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir following systematic killings of people from the community by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

Earlier the day, the ABVP had protested against the University administration, stating that the security personnel did not allow them to enter the varsity premises along with the screening equipment. "The University Administration tried to stop the screening of the movie "The Kashmir Files". When ABVP Karyakartas were bringing the projector from the main gate, University Security manhandled our Karyakartas. There was another attempt by the administration to seize our projector. We protested at the main gate and we have arranged everything for the screening. We appeal to the student community to join us in large numbers at Ambedkar Chowk (North ShopCom), " a social media post by the ABVP HCU said.

Meanwhile, UoH Registrar Devesh Nigam told PTI the Dean-Students' Welfare had urged the student groups against holding any screenings in view of the law and order issue, maintaining peace and tranquility in campus and forthcoming end semester exams starting from next week.

However, students decided to go ahead with their programme schedule. Nigam added that the campus is peaceful.

Jadavpur University 

The Students Federation of India also conducted screenings at Kolkata's Jadavpur University on Thursday evening. The screenings went ahead without any interference from the police or the administration.

KPCC screenings

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee too held screenings at the Shanghumugham beach in Thiruvananthapuram for the general public. The documentary was first shown at the KPCC headquarters here for its staff and party workers.

"We received a positive response to the screening from the general public. Lots of people turned up to see it. In view of the positive response, we will show it across the State at various places," KPCC general secretary G S Babu told PTI.