Maharashtra: Expulsion of six college students who wrote to PM revoked

Days after six students were expelled by a Wardha-based college for organising a function without permission on campus and writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reports have stated that their expulsion has been revoked on Sunday. The students, from Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (MGAHV), were expelled on October 9, after the university officials accused them of violating the code of conduct in force in the state of Maharashtra for the assembly polls to be held on October 21. The students had allegedly written to PM Modi over contentious issues like mob-lynching and other cases against political leaders. 

As per reports, the students had also planned a gathering at Gandhi Hill in the university campus on October 9 to mark BSP founder Kanshi Ram's death anniversary. Even after denied permission by the college officials, the students went ahead and organised the event. Later, speaking on the matter, one of the six students revealed that they were given expulsion orders on October 9 over violations of state-wide model code of conduct. Another student added that on October 10, a day after they were expelled, all six of them posted a letter to PM Modi.

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The students, however, claimed that the university officials had denied them permission to write to PM Modi but had not mentioned anything about the code of conduct.

In its order on Sunday, MGAHV Acting Registrar Kadar Nawaj Khan said the expulsion was cancelled due to "technical anomalies" and in the view of natural justice to the students. The expulsion of the six students not only caused widespread resentment in the students' community, leaders of Opposition parties like the Congress had also raised complaints to Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer against university officials.

READ | Maharashtra College Expels 6 Students For Writing To PM Modi: Report

Maharashtra Assembly polls

Meanwhile, Maharashtra, which has 288 Assembly seats, will go to polls on October 21 will be held in a single-phase, along with Haryana state. The counting procedure would be conducted on October 24. BJP-Shiv Sena are fighting tht assembly polls in an alliance, while Opposition Congress has entered in a poll alliance with Sharad Pawar-led NCP. 

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(With PTI inputs)