Narendra Modi in Varanasi, student critic ‘kept in hostel’

Policeman stayed in my room for about six hours and left only after PM had flown back to Delhi: Rohit Rana

Modi at an event in Varanasi on Thursday.: PTI picture

Piyush Srivastava   |   TT  |  Lucknow   |   09.07.22  : A Banaras Hindu University student who claims to have criticised the government’s education policies on social media has alleged that police kept him confined in a hostel room during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Varanasi on Thursday.

Final-year MA sociology student Rohit Rana said he wanted to attend a seminar on the National Education Policy that Modi inaugurated in Varanasi and ask him a few questions about the Centre’s plans on education and employment for the country’s youth.

“I had recently attended meetings of a few student bodies to discuss the government’s employment policy. But I didn’t know that I was under such intense surveillance from the police and the administration,” Rohit told local reporters on Thursday evening.

“A policeman came to my Room, No. 101, at the Raja Ram Hostel on Thursday morning and told me I was not allowed to step out until the Prime Minister had left the city. The policeman stayed in my room for about six hours and left only after Modi had flown back to Delhi.”

Ved Prakash Rai, station house officer of Lanka police station whose jurisdiction covers the BHU campus, told The Telegraph: “I don’t have any knowledge of the house arrest of any student at a BHU hostel. I shall try to find out why the student is making such an allegation.”

A picture of a two-bed room with a man in police uniform and a youth resembling Rohit sitting on separate beds, apparently clicked by one of Rohit’s classmates, has been posted on various social media platforms. The man in uniform appears to be reading a book.

On the walls of the room are pictures of Mahatma Gandhi and BHU founder Madan Mohan Malviya, and a few posters, including one of Congress student arm NSUI. There’s a small shelf between the two beds on which are some items of daily use and books.

Some of Rohit’s fellow students have told reporters that the man had identified himself as Ambuj Rai, a constable, and said he had been asked by his seniors to prevent Rohit from venturing out.

A senior Varanasi police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Rohit was “a member of the NSUI and planned to show a black flag to the Prime Minister”.

Rohit denied being formally an NSUI member and said he had no plans to show anyone a black flag.

“I attend meetings of the student unions, including the NSUI, but I’m at present too busy to be active in any organisation. My examinations are about to start and I’m also preparing for the provincial services examinations of several states,” he said.

“I never wanted to protest against anybody on the roads but I write on social media against the faulty education policy of the present government.”

Asked what questions he had for Modi, Rohit told reporters: “I wanted to ask why there are 2.5 lakh vacancies in the railways and another 2.5 lakh vacancies in the armed forces. What stops his government from starting the process of recruitment? And why is the government privatising its universities?”