Bid to screen BBC documentary at Delhi University aimed at 'creating chaos'; won't allow indiscipline: Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh

Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh said the University was "open to collaboration" with foreign institutions and Universities while new courses are in the pipeline and upgrade of infrastructure is top priority.

Delhi University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh has said the attempts by some students' organisations to screen the controversial BBC documentary were aimed at creating "chaos" in the varsity and asserted that indiscipline on the campus will not be tolerated.

In an interview to PTI, Mr. Singh said the DU was "open to collaboration" with foreign institutions and Universities while new courses are in the pipeline and upgrade of infrastructure is top priority.

"The motive behind (the screening) was to create chaos and cause indiscipline. They managed to do so as well," Mr. Singh said.

"I will not allow such behaviour on the campus that is why a seven-member committee was constituted to investigate the matter," he added.

The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India and the Bhim Army Student Federation had last month said that they would screen the controversial documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots titled ‘India: The Modi Question’ at different times in Delhi University's North Campus.

Commotion had erupted on the day of the screening on January 27 as police and university administration prevented the students' from going ahead. Twenty-four students affiliated with the NSUI were detained from the DU's Arts Faculty.

The seven-member committee, headed by Chief Proctor Rajni Abbi, was constituted after the incident to investigate lapses in security and suggest ways to strengthen security on the campus.