Police Cancel Mevani-Khalid Event in Mumbai, Detain Organisers

The Mumbai Police on Thursday withdrew permission for a conference to be addressed by Dalit rights activist and Gujarat’s Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani and JNU student Umar Khalid, leading to uproarious scenes outside Bhaidas Hall, the venue, in Vile Parle.  A case has also been filed against the two for “creating enmity” between people by their “provocative” speeches in Pune.

Several students have also been been taken under preventive custody following protests over the abrupt cancellation of the Chhatra Bharati All India National Students Summit.

Allahabad University research scholar Richa Singh, who joined the Samajwadi Party recently, and JNU student Pradeep Narwal, who is associated with the Bhim Army, are two prominent student leaders who have been detained.

The Juhu police has also issued a notice to Chhatra Bharati, a Left-leaning student’s organisation, under section 141 of the CrPc, stating that the permission for the event was denied in view of the Maharashtra bandh.

A spokesperson of the city police confirmed that the proposed event has been cancelled. But the official declined to state the reason behind the move.

Official sources later said the action came in the wake of prohibitory orders imposed in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra following Wednesday’s shutdown, which left one student dead in Nanded and many more injured.

Opposing the police move, members of the Chhatra Bharati tried to stage a protest outside the venue. Some members even attempted to enter the auditorium, but were evicted by the police. Several were bundled into a police van and detained.

“The police were forced to detain some students and the event organisers to restore law and order in the state capital that has already witnessed violence in the last two-three days (during state-wide protests staged by Dalits against desecration of the memorial of their icon and attack on them by right wing activists at Bhima Koregaon during an annual event). The administration has also imposed section 144 in parts of Mumbai,” a city police spokesperson told Newsclick.

The organisers in turn have accused the police of acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the state.

“The day-long event, in which Mevani, Khalid and several other prominent personalities were invited to speak, was planned long ago,” Chhatra Bharati vice-president Sagar Bhalerao told Newsclick. “The police, acting at the behest of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena government in the state, withdrew the permission at the eleventh hour with an aim to crush the voice of the students who raise uncomfortable questions.”

Meanwhile, the Pune police on Thursday registered an FIR against Mevani and Khalid at Vishrambaug Police Station in the district under sections 153(A), 505 and 117 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after right-wing groups accused the two of inciting caste tensions in the state.

A police complaint had been filed against Mevani with the Pune police after angry protesters, allegedly supporting Dalit groups, blocked road and rail traffic in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The complaint said Mevani and Khalid had attended the ‘Elgar Parishad’, an event organised to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon, on December 31.

Clashes broke out between Dalits – who had gone to the village near Pune to attend the celebrations – and some local right-wing groups on the day. A 28-year-old Maratha man was killed and 12 people were injured in the violence.

As massive protests swept Mumbai the following day, Mevani had appealed for calm. “Maharashtra government must ensure rule of law. I appeal to the people of Maharashtra to maintain peace,” the MLA had tweeted.

Yesterday, two persons died during the protests to enforce a shutdown called in the state by Dalit groups.