The cancel culture reached an esteemed college of Delhi University, Lady Shri Ram College. An event, which was to be hosted by the college on Ambedkar Jayanti, was cancelled because a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson was invited to attend it.
Sharing the news on social media, BJP National Spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan said that the event in LSR was forcefully cancelled by a section of students because they were not comfortable with a BJP spokesperson attending the programme.
“I was invited by the SC ST cell of the LSR college to speak on ‘Ambedkar Beyond Constitution’ on April 14, 2022. The posters were prepared and link of Google Meet was created,” Paswan said.
He added, “I was informed this morning (April 13) that the event has been cancelled at the behest of my political affiliation and my role as National Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party.”
Paswan had already prepared his presentation on the contributions of Babasaheb Ambedkar beyond the drafting of the Constitution, his role as an economist, a diplomat and an educationist.
In a subtle message to the section of the intolerant students at the college, Paswan said, “Debate and discussion is the essence of democracy. At a time when we celebrate 75 years of our Independence, on thing that we ought to learn from the makers of our Constitution is their ability to listen, absorb and respect other view-points. Babasaheb represented those values!”
He further asserted that this Cancel culture would not stop him from articulating his ideas and opinions, and he will continue to write and speak about the aspirations of his community.
In a message to the student community at LSR, Shi Paswan said, “My sincere regards to the students from LSR who invited me to speak, those who stopped me from speaking and shut the voice of their peers too. I urge them to not be disheartened, I urge them to remain free thinking citizens. This is what will make Mother India great! I shall be more than happy to continue engagement with the youngsters from across the country and LSR, of course!”
Alumni of college, writer Smita Barooah said that even in her time, the college was Left-leaning, especially in Political Science Department, but she did not remember cancel culture on the campus.
