Banaras Hindu University women's rights protest

2023-08-04T11:32:33Z

117.201.61.155:

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}

{{Infobox civil conflict|place=[[Banaras Hindu University]], [[Varanasi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]|date=September 2017}}

The '''Banaras Hindu University women's rights protest''' is a series of events beginning with a [[Banaras Hindu University]] student's September 2017 complaint that the university administration treats women unfairly.

==Harassment incident==
On 21 September 2017 a woman reported sexual harassment to the university.<ref name="Mishra October 2017">{{cite web |last1=Mishra |first1=Bishnu |title=Student Protests Have Challenged the Ideological Stagnation of BHU |url=https://thewire.in/education/banaras-hindu-university-protests-2 |website=[[The Wire (Indian web publication)]] |date=2 October 2017}}</ref> She claimed that the university responded by blaming her.<ref name="Mishra October 2017"/>

==Protests==
{{Unbalanced section|date=December 2021}}
The next day, 22 September, students organized a protest of the university's treatment of women.<ref name="Mishra October 2017"/>

The university's administration filed a [[First information report]] against hundreds of students and alleged outsiders for rioting, mischief indented arson, attempt to murder among other sections of [[Indian Penal Code]].<ref>{{cite web |title=What is the BHU protest? everything you need to know |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/bhu-protest-police-lathicharge-video-sexual-harassment-molestation-4860135/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en-IN |date=25 September 2017}}</ref>

Security officers used violence in an attempt to get the protesters to disperse .<ref>{{cite web |last1=Akash |first1=Kumar |title=BHU protest: From 'sexist' rules to unruly force and political mudslinging |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/bhu-protest-from-sexist-rules-to-unruly-force-and-political-mudslinging-117092500563_1.html |website=Business Standard India |date=25 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BHU protest turns violent: Police lathicharge students protesting against victim shaming |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/police-resort-to-lathicharge-on-students-protesting-against-victim-shaming-at-bhu-live-updates-4858487/ |website=The Indian Express |date=24 September 2017}}</ref> Various protesters reported injuries. Alleged outsiders joined students in stone-pelting.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=BHU protest: What really happened in Banaras Hindu University and why girls wanted to meet Vice Chancellor |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/bhu-protest-what-really-happened-in-banaras-hindu-university-and-why-girls-wanted-to-meet-vice-chancellor/870096/ |website=The Financial Express |date=25 September 2017}}</ref>

The protests in Benares triggered protests in Delhi.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dikshit |first1=Rajeev |title=Several students injured as BHU protest turns violent |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/several-students-injured-as-bhu-protest-turns-violent/articleshow/60820729.cms |website=The Times of India |date=25 September 2017}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=December 2021|reason=See [[WP:TOI]]}}

At the one year anniversary of the protest students organized another protest.<ref>{{cite web |title=BHU Female Students Attacked on Anniversary of Sexual Harassment Protests |url=https://www.newsclick.in/anniversary-anti-eve-teasing-bhu-protests-women-students-heckled-and-attacked-yet-again |website=NewsClick |language=en |date=24 September 2018}}</ref> The protesters reported that an [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]] student group attacked them violently for protesting.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mohan |first1=Siddhant |title=On first anniversary of Banaras Hindu University protests, ABVP workers assault students, journalist |url=https://scroll.in/article/895643/on-first-anniversary-of-banaras-hindu-university-protests-abvp-workers-assault-students-journalist |website=[[Scroll.in]] |date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

==Reactions==
The university criticized the girl who made the original complaint for being out at night.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bose |first1=Sunaina |title=The Vicious Response To Protesting Women Students At BHU |url=https://feminisminindia.com/2017/09/28/bhu-protest-severe-backlash/ |website=Feminism In India |date=27 September 2017}}</ref> {{Better source needed|reason=FeminismInIndia is not a newswebsite. The reference shared here is of an opinion piece.|date=December 2021}}{{Failed verification|date=December 2021}}

PM [[Modi]] discussed a response with the chief minister.<ref>{{cite web |title=BHU violence: Heads roll as PM Modi speaks to CM Adityanath, committee set up to look into incident |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhu-violence-heads-roll-as-pm-modi-speaks-to-cm-adityanath-committee-to-look-into-incident/story-N59UFg34MDd7DwZ6BMv6SP.html |website=www.hindustantimes.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218173115/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhu-violence-heads-roll-as-pm-modi-speaks-to-cm-adityanath-committee-to-look-into-incident/story-N59UFg34MDd7DwZ6BMv6SP.html |archivedate=18 February 2018 |language=en |date=25 September 2017}}</ref>

Uttar Pradesh [[Governor (India)|Governor]] called the incident sad <ref name=":0" />

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister [[Yogi Adityanath]] recommended better communication as a way to prevent future such protests.<ref>{{cite web |title=BHU students protests highlights: Narendra Modi 'unhappy' over incident, asks UP CM to act against guilty |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/bhu-students-unrest-live-updates-firs-registered-against-1200-students-for-arson-hostels-mostly-vacated-4078457.html |website=Firstpost |date=27 September 2017}}</ref>

A committee was set-up under [[Chief secretary (India)|Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary]].<ref name=":0" />

In May 2018, following-up on an inquiry report, the university administration debarred 11 students on charges of vandalism and assault.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dua |first1=Rohan |title=Students who led BHU protest debarred from future courses |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/bhu-bars-11-for-protests-over-molestation/articleshow/66518792.cms |website=The Times of India |date=6 November 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Banaras Hindu University]]
[[Category:2017 protests]]
[[Category:Gatherings of women]]
[[Category:2017 in India]]

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Banaras Hindu University women's rights protest