Skit row: Seven students and college officials arrested by police

Police have arrested nine persons including seven students of Jain Deemedtobe University here over a controversial skit that allegedly had casteist contentThe skit that was performed by the students at a college festival organised at NIMHANS Convention Centre on February 8 purportedly contained offensive references mocking B R Ambedkar and Dalits the portion of which was widely shared on social mediaSeven students along with the DeanFaculty of Management and Director Admissions and Programme Coordinator were arrested by the police on MondayAccording to police they had filed a case under various sections of IPC and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act following a complaint by officials of the Social Welfare Department Bengaluru South based on which the arrests were madeThey said the arrested were produced before the Magistrate who has remanded them to three days police custodyAlso read BREAKING Income tax department conducts searches at BBC officesAccording to sources the students have told police that they had no intent to insult Ambedkar or anyone and never thought the skit would land them in troubleThe university suspended the students and has tendered an unconditional apology for the skitOn 08022023 some students belonging to Jain University enacted a skit during the college festival The transcript of the skit enacted reveals that the skit deals with ending discrimination in the society and bringing equality without being affected by caste creed sex or religion of individuals the Registrar of the University said in a statementIt said although the intention seems to convey the said message certain specific words used in the skit have resulted in fractions of the society taking exceptions to the contents of the same and it has led to public outcry and also disturbance in the societyFurther stating that the institution on coming to know about the incident has made internal enquiries and taken necessary disciplinary action in this regard the statement said the Jain University and all its centres which come under its umbrella have always been known for their secular policies and the institution does not prescribe any of the views taken in the offending skit performed by the studentsThe university is concerned that certain fractions of the society have been hurt by the offending skit performed by the students it said adding that certain words used against Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar are strongly condemned and the university on its part totally opposes such commentsJain University has highest regards for the Father of the Constitution and shall uphold the same to eternity it said adding that Jain University hereby offers its unconditional apology to all who have been hurt by the skit performed by the studentsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever