In Rajasthan’s Barmer district, a controversy broke out after the ‘reel star’ comment made about District Collector IAS Tina Dabi. Kotwali police detained two student leaders of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) during the ongoing protest against fee hike outside Multanmal Bhikchand Chhajed Women’s College. After this, the students of the women’s college reached the Kotwali police station and started protesting there. The students allege that the student leaders were arrested not for protesting against the fee hike, but for calling Tina Dabi a ‘reel star’. The district administration rejected the allegations and said that this action was taken to maintain law and order.
There was a demonstration going on outside the college
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According to the information, the students of the women’s college were protesting outside the college regarding the fee hike. ABVP student leaders also participated in the demonstration. During this, amidst sloganeering, the word reel star was used against District Collector Tina Dabi. Some time after the demonstration, police reached the spot and took two student leaders into custody. As soon as the information about the arrest was received, anger spread among the college students.
Protest in the police station after detention
After taking the student leaders to the police station, a large number of girl students reached the Kotwali police station and sat on strike in the campus itself. The students alleged that action was taken by misrepresenting the remarks. Heena Khatri, a student who participated in the protest, said that the student leader had called the District Collector a reel star, but there was nothing objectionable or derogatory in it. According to Heena Khatri, the student leader simply said that Madam is a reel star. What is wrong in this? Wherever there is a cleanliness drive, madam is present there and videos are made. There was no insult in this.
Also expressed displeasure regarding Navon Barmer
The students also raised questions about the development claims of the administration. He says that the district administration talks about ‘Navon Barmer’, but the situation around the college is different. The student said that there is garbage lying on the main road of the college and this was said only to draw attention towards this.
There was also mention of discussion on role models
The students also told that during the controversy there was a discussion about role models. According to her, a teacher in the college had said that the role model of the girl students is Tina Ma’am. On this the student leader gave examples of historical women characters. The students say that a case was made out by linking this conversation.
Action taken as soon as the strike ended
The girl students also raised questions on the timing of the police action. He says that when the protest was going on outside the college, no arrests were made. As soon as the demonstration ended, the student leaders were taken into custody. The students clearly said that the protest will continue until the student leaders are released.
Tina Dabi said from Aaj Tak
On this matter, District Collector Tina Dabi said in a phone conversation with Aaj Tak that this entire matter is being presented in a wrong manner. Tina Dabi said, there is no talk of any such dispute. The officers were misbehaved during the demonstration. The student leaders were detained to maintain law and order. He also clarified that no case was registered and both the student leaders were later released.
acquittal without trial
According to police sources, the action against student leaders was taken as a precautionary measure and they were released after the situation became normal. Police say that the purpose of the action was only to maintain peace and order. After the incident, a debate started on social media regarding the “reel star” comment. Some people are linking it to freedom of expression, while some are linking it to decorum towards officials.
At present the situation is normal
After the release of the student leaders, the ongoing protest at the Kotwali police station was ended. However, the demands of the girl students regarding increase in college fees still remain. In Barmer, this matter has now become a topic of discussion regarding administrative action, student movement and limits of expression.
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