Published Feb 11, 2024 | 3:14 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 11, 2024 | 3:22 PM
An FIR has been registered against. Prof Shaija. (Supplied)
The National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NIT-C) in Kerala has constituted a panel to investigate a recent controversial Facebook comment by Professor A Shaija, who allegedly glorified Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, Nathuram Godse.
The institute assured appropriate action based on the findings of the panel, an official statement said on Saturday, 10 February.
Authorities of the institution made it clear that the institute does not endorse or support any comment that goes against the principles and values upheld by Mahatma Gandhi, it said.
“To address the complaints related to the comment in question, the Institute has constituted a committee to thoroughly investigate various aspects of the incident.
“It will prepare a comprehensive report, and based on its findings, appropriate action will be taken by the higher authorities,” it added.
Noting that NIT-Calicut is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ensuring that its faculty members adhere to principles, the authorities also said that the institute remains dedicated to maintaining a harmonious and inclusive academic environment.
The panel was constituted a week after Professor Shaija had been booked by police for her Facebook comment.
The professor was booked last week by the police for her Facebook comment “expressing pride” in Nathuram Godse for “saving India”.
Shaija, a senior faculty member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at NIT in Kozhikode, posted a comment on Facebook on 30 January — Martyr’s Day — saying “Proud of Godse for saving India.”
She was commenting on a post by a lawyer, Krishna Raj, who posted Godse’s photograph, captioning it, Hindu Mahasabha activist Nathuram Vinayak Godse, a hero for many in India.
Multiple complaints were lodged against Professor Shaija in several police stations in the city by various student organisations following which an FIR was registered against her.
IPC Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with the intent to cause riot) was invoked against the professor.
On 7 February, the Youth Congress (YC) held a protest march to NIT-C demanding action for treason against a woman professor
Earlier, similar protests were held by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student organisation of the BJP, as well as the KSU, SFI, and MSF.
On 6 February, the SFI the students’ wing of the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala staged a protest march in front of the NIT-C.
Significantly, the SFI protest came a day after the ABVP protested against the professor.
ABVP activists marched to the institution and burnt Godse in effigy on 5 February. They further sought action against the professor, saying that she posted an insulting comment against the Mahatma.
“The professor posted something which is insulting the Father of the Nation and praising Godse who assassinated him,” a student leader said while addressing the ABVP activists.
During the protest, SFI leaders spoke about the protest march organised by the ABVP.
“We saw the ABVP organising a protest near the campus on Monday. This made all of us doubt whether the ABVP in Kerala is speaking against the RSS ideologues. It was the RSS idealogues that hailed Godse and said the day he was hanged should be observed as Balidan Diwas,” an SFI leader said during the protest.
“We should also doubt the intentions behind this protest,” she added.
(With PTI inputs)
