Puducherry student rejects gold medal to ‘protest’ against NRC

PUDUCHERRY: Stopped from attending the Pondicherry University convocation presided over by President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday, Rabeeha Abdurehim, a postgraduate gold medallist in mass communication, said no to the medal, also as a protest against the citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Rabeeha said she was allowed to take part in the 27th convocation of the university only after the President left the venue after presenting gold medals and certificates to a few students.A university official said they imposed no restrictions on the student, it was a matter between her and police. Police, meanwhile, said she was only asked a few questions and not stopped from attending the ceremony.
“I don’t know why I was kept out. But I learned that when the students inside asked police they said, ‘May be, she is wearing her scarf in a different way.’ But nobody gave me a reason,” Rabeeha told TOI. Some police officers said Rabeeha had a reputation of being a student activist, and that the university officials didn’t want an “embarrassment” when the President was around.
Rabeeha said she rejected the gold medal mainly to protest against police brutality that is happening against students across India. She said students have been protesting in a peaceful manner against NRC-CAA. “I have dreamed often about the moment I would receive my gold medal and master's certificate. Now, this is my way This is my way of showing the world what education means to us youth, not medals and certificates but learning the message of unity, peace and standing up against injustice, fascism and bigotry,” said the MA (mass communication) first rank holder.
S I Humayun, Pondicherry University officer on special duty (vigilance and security) said he was not aware of what happened between Rabeeha and police. “Police took over control of the university just before the President’s arrival. It is her decision to reject the medal. She also later clarified that none asked her to remove her hijab,” said Humayun.
Superintendent of police N Ravikumar said police neither asked her to remove her hijab nor prevented her from attending the convocation. “She was called to clarify a few points. Such things are a routine during VIP visits. She was let in after a few questions,” the officer said.
Rabeeha said she reached the convocation venue, Jawaharlal Nehru Auditorium, wearing a hijab. A few minutes before the President’s arrival, a police officer asked her to come out to have a word. She was not permitted to attend the ceremony when the President was present but allowed to go in later, she said.
“When I went outside, the lady officer (SSP) asked me to wait. The doors were shut. I was not allowed in until the president left,” said Rabeeha. “It made me angry. It was an insult But, at the same time, it gave me courage because I knew I had to take a stand, then and there,” she said. Later, when Rabeeha was called to collect her medal and certificate, she politely refused the medal but collected the certificate.