People's Democracy

Ranchi: Students Protest Dress Code, Acid Threat

ON August 17, hundreds of students from several colleges and other educational institutions in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, took out a protest march, led by the Students Federation of India (SFI), against the so-called dress code and the accompanying edict issued by some organisations, coupled with the threat that they would throw acid upon those who would not follow the said code. Starting their protest march from St Javier’s College, these students raised slogans like “We want freedom as well as protection,” “Respect us; don’t restrict us,” “Ranchi police, wake up,” and “It’s really disgusting whatever is happening.” After marching through the main thoroughfares of Ranchi, the procession reached the Albert Ekka Chowk where it culminated in a public meeting, with hundreds more of students and people participating.

Addressing the public meeting, student leaders told that a few organisations are trying to threaten the students, basically girls, by issuing an edict and saying that these organisations would throw acid on the faces of those who would not obey the order of the dress code. The speakers said students knew their indebtedness to and responsibility for the wider society, and that no edict could threaten them and restrict their freedom and curtain their right to a respectful social life.

The public meeting was addressed by the SFI’s Ranchi district convener Avinash kumar Singh, Karan Singh Rajput, Kranti Deep, Shalini, Anjali, Tejaswini, Kashish, Ojaswita, Kalyani Roy, Rupa, Prerna, Anamika, Vipin Kumar, Amit Munda, Mohd Akram, Ravi Kumar, Pritam and Vikash Kumar Singh, among others.