The JNU Visually Challenged Students Forum condemns in the strongest words the brutal and insensitive attitude of the Delhi Police towards the peaceful march of the JNU students demanding accessible and affordable education for all.
The peaceful march was called by JNUSU against the massive fee hike and the newly proposed hostel manual. In the protest march, the students with disabilities participated vigorously. However, we have observed that the Delhi police has grossly violated the democratic right of protest for the affordable and accessible education of students with disability.
The students with disabilities have been brutally thrashed by the Delhi police during their peaceful participation in the march. In this context, one of the members of the forum, Shashibhushan Pandey, who is also the JNUSU Councillor, was inhumanely beaten up by the Delhi Police.
When Shashibhushan brought into the attention of the Police personnel that he is visually impaired student, then the Delhi police very insensitively reacted saying “Andha hai to protest karne kyon aata hai” (If you are blind then why have you come for the protest). After saying this, he was severely beaten up by the police by kicking him on his chest and stomach and throwing him on the ground. He was also not assisted by the police personnel in seeking medical treatment for the severe injuries he faced in the police brutality.
The JNU Visually Challenged Students Forum strongly condemns the insensitive and ableist attitude shown by the actions of the police, which does not regard it a democratic right of students with disability to protest and raise demands for accessible and inclusive higher education.
They said in a statement, “We call for the inclusive mode of protest for all. We demand an apology from the Delhi police and the need for sensitization of the Delhi police towards the basic human rights of demanding inclusive and accessible education for all.”
“Therefore, we (the JNU Visually Challenged Students’ Forum) are also holding a peaceful protest against Delhi Police from tomorrow at 2:00 PM onwards,” they added.
