The Commonwealth Students Association (CSA) released a press statement on April 11. It expressed solidarity with an Indian-origin student Karan Kataria, who was recently disqualified from the LSE Students’ Union (LSESU) elections based on his alleged links with the RSS and Hindu nationalism.
CSA has demanded to review the allegations of harassment, bullying and racism against Karan Kataria and other marginalised communities students. In this regard, CSA has urged to declare the election of LSESU as null and void due to the paucity of transparency and fairness in the internal election process.
It has also called for an independent external review to objectively investigate the recent electoral mishap to ensure that all the accusations are thoroughly probed and addressed.
It has condemned the racial discrimination and bullying of marginalised communities based on their identities and beliefs. CSA emphasised that personal faiths and beliefs should be equally respected. CSA also came heavily on LSE as it has been observed that LSESU did not provide credible evidence or statements to debar the individual, which goes against the principle of natural justice.
There has been no swift response from the LSESU on the issue. CSA has conveyed its disappointment in the LSESU, which is least bothered to take such grievances seriously. It has added to the concern that the future internal election processes would also be unaccountable and opaque. It is clearly indicating its xenophobic and Hinduphobic thought process, which has hindered the inclusivity and safety of the interests of all the students in the institution.
Universities and educational institutions have always been a hot-bed of such controversies. LSE’s case study of Hinduphobia and racism is a textbook case of the activated Anti-Indian sentiments and toolkits on the rise.
