New Delhi: Female students have filed sexual harassment complaints against SFI leaders of three prominent central universities of the country. Serious allegations have been leveled against the unit president and secretary of Delhi University, Hyderabad IFLU and Pondicherry University. Complaints say that they are sexually and psychologically harassed and stalked. It is also alleged that the SFI leadership ignored the complaints. At the same time, the SFI leadership has taken action against the leaders after the complaints spread on social media.
A sexual complaint was filed against Abhiram N.R., who was the president and secretariat member of the Hindu College Unit SFI under Delhi University. According to the complaint, an 18-year-old Malayali student, who had come to study for the first time in the college, was mentally tortured and forced to have physical intercourse. Abhiram is currently a student at Jamia Millia University and active in Unit SFI.
The victim was an active SFI worker. The student alleges that when she contacted SFI leaders, including those of Delhi University, with a complaint about the incident, they dismissed her with scorn. Along with this, there is a complaint that the SFI leaders took the lead in insulting and insulting the victim personally, including on social media. They were also expelled from SFI for anti-organisational activities.
The SFI Delhi Committee has issued a press release without mentioning the name of the accused anywhere in the incident. SFI Delhi President Aishe Ghosh and Secretary Mayank claimed in a press release that the victim has been assured of all support and the accused has already been removed from office in another matter. However, the news release also indicates that he later returned to SFI at Hindu College. This is explained as a failure on the part of the Hindu College leadership.
Another allegation of sexual assault is against Siddharth Selvaraj, unit secretary of English and Foreign Languages University (IFLU), Hyderabad. He sexually assaulted a female student of the university. Following the student’s complaint, the SFI leadership was forced to take disciplinary action against Siddharth. In a press release, SFI IFLU informed that he has been removed from the position of secretary and unit membership.
Another sexual complaint is against Ananthapadmanabhan, president of the SFI unit of Pondicherry University. Ananthapadmanabhan is a second year post graduate student in library science department at the university. The complaint states that he physically and mentally tortured many girls. The girl who was tortured had directly come out on social media with the note ‘me too’. It was after this that the SFI Unit Committee took action against him.
According to the Metoo note, children as young as 17 years old are among the victims of torture. The girl alleges that when she approached those concerned with the complaint, she was abused as a prostitute and insulted personally. The reaction of progressive feminist leaders is why the issue was brought up. The victim also revealed that some people were questioning him while walking with his face raised in front of the accused.
In a press release issued by the unit committee, it was mentioned that he was removed from his duties due to anti-organisational activities. There is no mention of sexual harassment in the news release. It is said that the inquiry committee has demanded strict measures. The press release stated that the party stands with the complainants and ensures unconditional support to the victims.
Summary: Female students have filed sexual harassment complaints against SFI leaders of three prominent central universities of the country. Serious allegations have been leveled against the unit presidents and secretary of Delhi University, Pondicherry University and Hyderabad EFLU respectively