PC stands in solidarity with Muslim gold medalist

December 24, 2019 09:34

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram tweets in support of the Pondicherry university student who was not allowed to attend her convocation ceremony.

"Keeping out gold medalist Rabeeha Abdurehim from the Convocation of Pondicherry University was an outrageous assault on her rights. Who was the officer who took the student out and refused her entry? The officer violated the civil rights of the student and must be held liable, the senior Congress leader said.

A female student of the university, a gold medal winner, alleged that she was prevented from attending the convocation ceremony on Monday at which President Ram Nath Kovind was the chief guest.

Rabeeha Abdurehim, who hails from Kerala and had done her Masters course in Mass Communication, also refused to accept the gold medal to express solidarity with students protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

The student claimed she was asked by a senior police officer to leave the auditorium before the commencement of the convocation.

She was allowed into the auditorium after the President left when the ceremony continued to present gold medals and certificates to the outgoing graduates.

She said she did not know the actual reason why she was asked to leave by the police officer.

"I don't know why I was sent out. But I learnt when the students inside asked police they said maybe it is because she is wearing scarf in a different way. That could also be the reason why they sent me out but nobody told me blatantly on my face," she said.

Abdurehim said she received the degree scroll and declined to accept the gold medal to express solidarity with students protesting the CAA.

The convocation ceremony continued after the President left the campus and an university official handed over the certificates and medals.

An official in the university said that they did not know what had happened outside. "The ceremony went off well," the official said.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

9 Super Summer Holiday Options For Families

Looking for fun things to do as family during this sunny season?

Aamir's Dream Comes True

Sridevi's younger daughter Khushi and Aamir Khan's elder son Junaid are coming together for a film, to be directed Aamir's trusted director, the very talented Advait Chandan (Secret Superstar, Laal Singh Chaddha).

Helicopter on way to pick up Shiv Sena leader crashes in Maha

While the pilot suffered injuries, the helicopter's rotor blades got damaged in the incident.

RR Vs SRH: Who Played The Best Knock? Vote!

Half-centuries from Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy helped Sunrisers Hyderabad edge Rajasthan Royals by one run.

Bourses eye index derivatives with new stock additions in limbo

Stock exchanges are expanding the buffet of index derivatives even as the number of stocks permitted to trade in this space, generating an average daily turnover of Rs 450 trillion, is shrinking. This week, the National Stock Exchange...