New Delhi: Students and alumni from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) in Bombay, Delhi and other campuses have come out in support of former IITian Sharjeel Imam, who has been absconding since a sedition case was filed against him last week.
Imam, a 2011 IIT Bombay graduate who is now a student of Jawaharlal Nehru University, allegedly made “inflammatory” statements during an anti-CAA protest. His alleged comments led to registration of sedition cases against him in several states, including Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
In one of the videos, which is from a protest at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Sharjeel talks about how CAA-NRC will severely hurt “the Hindu and Bengali Muslims in Northeast”. “Assam aur India katke alag ho jaaye, tabhi ye humari baat sunenge (Only once India and Assam are cut off from each other will they listen to us),” he can be heard saying in the video.
In a statement released Tuesday, the IITians who have come out in his support have said Sharjeel is “being victimized”, and that a small portion of his 40-minute speech has been “cherry-picked” to make a case against him.
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Statement signed by 148 IITians
“He is being victimized for a statement during an anti-CAA speech delivered in Aligarh Muslim University in the ongoing protest. They have cherry-picked a few minutes of his speech which is over 40 minutes long and are misrepresenting what he said to make them appear hateful and objectionable,” read the statement signed by 148 IITians.
“Sharjeel is a scholar and he understands the implications of his words, and is sensible and responsible enough to not incite violence or advocate any anti-India movement or acts…”, the statement added.
“…he can be seen saying in the same speech towards the end ‘We must remain non-violent during our protests’,” it pointed out. “The complete 41 minute video can be easily found on social media by searching ‘Sharjeel Imam full speech at Aligarh Muslim University’.”
“We, the students and alumni of IIT, stand in solidarity with Sharjeel Imam and demand the revocation of all half-baked media reports being circulated against him; and that the whole of his speech must be considered before forming any opinion as to what he said and the context in which he made the statements in question,” the students and the alumni said in the statement.
They also condemned the “Islamophobic behaviour of media and police against the Anti-CAA protesters”.
The 148 signatories include current students and alumni from IITs in Mumbai, Delhi, Kharagpur, Guwahati and Srinagar. Over 100 students from Jamia Millia Islamia, AMU and other state universities have also signed the letter.
Meanwhile, two persons, including Sharjeel Imam’s younger brother, have been picked up in Bihar by the police investigating the sedition case against him.
Sharjeel Imam is allegedly one of the organisers of the ongoing protest at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi. The protesters, however, have distanced themselves from his comments, saying “no single person” can be called the organiser.
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Even if it is cherry picked ,he can be heard justifying so called tukde tukde gang agenda.traitors must be punished.muslims should stop supporting such peoples
Then why was he on the run? If he was innocent then he should have faced it instead of running away like a chicken!
Calling Assam as Chicken Neck and talking about cutting NE from India, and then running away from the law!
Arrest of sharjeel is also an example of islmophobia. I heard his whole speech and there is no issue in his speech. There are many leaders in India who have used and using such words (ironically) .
Catch him…punish him
The print is using the word “IITians” sp many times, are you trying to portray that if someone is from “IIT” the can’t be wrong ever ????
Even when we have proofs (videos) in which sharjeel is showing his true colors.
Even small portion of potassium cyanide is enough to kill few people.Talking about cutting northeast from india by blocking chickens neck is worst form of Traitorship.Police should break his bones.The Print article proves that they r funded by chinese agencies to create anti govt agenda .
Why can’t I read my own replies?
This comments section is wierd.
Doesn’t matter that a person is a scholar or not. Anyone who tries to break India, incite violence should be punished severely by law. And in this case, there is video period against Sharjeel which the whole world had seen. Then how can anyone claim that he has been victimised? Court must set an example by severely punishing him that whoever irrespective of being even an IITian have to suffer if he/she ever tried to disintegrate India.
Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.
It is astonishing to see the corollary of the events. Illegal Bangaladeshis infiltrate Assam in large numbers over decades, changing the demographics of the state. Slowly but surely muslims take center stage in the state politics. Nine districts of Assam become muslim majority all through illegal infiltration. More and more districts showing similar trends. In time muslims will overrun the state. Now a so called intellectual by the name of sharjeel imam talks of severing off the North Eastern region from India, all due to his misguided feelings of muslims being victimized in Assam. WOW. And now some more intellectuals have joined in to support him…..Amazing.
The local Assamese are the ones who have been wiped off systematically and they should be the ones crying out in the streets against the muslim invaders.
Who is the victim and who is being victimized?? This is only possible in India, people like Sharjeel Imam find support while the poor Assamese whose culture, livelihood, religion, lifestyle, tradition literally everything has been destroyed find no sympathizers.
Sharjeel Imam is part of the global islamic design to systematically take over lanes, bylanes, areas, cities, regions and countries. People should wake up before its too late.
Tne studensts who have submitted the petetion from IIT can you show how many people who came from open geneeral category and Under graduate BTECH has signed it ? 99 percent will be through backward Quota getting less marks and mahority will be Pist graduate degree holders or doing Phds as they know they cant survive the Competetion in open market. So 148 of tjose backbenchers of IIT dowant make any percentage or effect . They are the people who couldnt make through IIT in open Competetion including sharjeel himself. I am an SC its a shame that he converted to Islam But still takes the benefit of Caste system that exists only in Hindu faith .
If u r a SC then why couldn’t you make it to IIT?
according to you if getting into IIT is easy for reserved ones .
stop blaming start studying . I can smell jealously from you because you couldn’t get into IIT
Hi Krithika
I am an alumni of IIT-Bombay myself and senior to sharjeel Imam. I knew sharjeel well during the IITB days. I support the police in this sedition case. I would like to know where the 148 people have signed as I could clarify others also about the situation. As far as I am concerned sharjeel should surrender himself to police instead of hiding. Please feel free to contact me.
Anil Kumar,
Alumni-IIT Bombay.
Another son of headmaster article. What’s wrong with you guys? why can’t you call spade a spade?
just because he is a leftist/studious doesn’t make him right/moral.let the law take its course.
Shame on you, Theprint has became another NDTV /REPUBLIC
he eneyered in IIT through backwarad caste quota and that too in Mtech . Not even a Dog goes to IIT to study MTECH that too sharjeel got through Quota and not open category . They get less marks se the sytem and have less brain survive open competetion . IIT was known when the Quota system was not there and less number of IIT taughtengineering . Bow you have 13 IIT and 27 NIT which meritorious student will go to stydy post graduate in India that too through Quota ? He comes from MUSLIM OBC caste of Bihar and thats why all the 148 from same flock of not able to make it in BTech or ipen category seats in IIT do this things . Less merit surviving on certificate gives them the Comfort of Kuch nahi toh sarkari Job is there .
He got AIR 27 ???
Aur JNU m jis course se wo PhD kr rhe usme all India sirf 16 seats h..
Aur wo ek upper class muslim family se aate h.. know before criticizing
He’s not from Backward quota he’s belongs from General .
for your kind information
he entered in IIT through backwarad caste quota and that too in Mtech . Not even a Dog goes to IIT to study MTECH that too sharjeel got through Quota and not open category . They get less marks use the system knowing they have less brain survive open competetion . IIT was known when the Quota system was not there and less number of IIT taught Engineering . Now you have 17 IIT and 21 NIT to teach BTECH which meritorious student will go to study post graduate in India that too through reserved caste Quota ? Sharjeel comes from MUSLIM OBC caste of Bihar and thats why all the 148 from same flock of not able to make it in BTech or in open categorynof Mtech seats in IIT do this things the same what kanhaiya did in JNU using givt funds to become african translator. Less merit surviving on OBC certificate gives them the Comfort of Kuch nahi toh sarkari Job is there . Govt is right when they are sqeezing Govt jobs and IIT should also look at Interviews for admission to PG programes as due to mass scale apathy for PG and doctoral programmes in IIT India from the meritorious students Its becoming the den of Backbenchers who come with less GATE score or Caste certificate . 99 percent pf open category students with even average grades CGPA either opt for CAT or GRE or if in India mostly go for IISC Bangalore again to prepare for UPSC IES after all they dont have caste certificate to cover there Incompetence
First you learn to type properly, then try to give lessons, and that too in a language you actually had as your medium of instruction. IITians need no lessons from someone who’s so poorly literate. Grammar to chhorh, teri spellings tak ghalat hain, chomu! Abey English nahin aati, to Hindi mein likh de bhai. ?
Secondly, only if you’re literate enough to first know and then talk about anything, you must know that Sharjeel cleared JEE (full form google karle kyunki tujhe pata nahin hogi tere level of literacy aur intellect se infer kiya ja sakta hai) and got admitted as an undergrad in the Department of Computer Science, IIT Bombay. Ek Dual degree ka course bhi hota hai IITs mein, paandu! Wo JEE clear karke he aate hain.
You all IITians concentrate on studies and bring one noble prize gather more support mere 148 indicates otherwise.
Even it is cherry picked,the comment is enough to prove the break india agenda of tukde tukde gang and under no context is justified..Therefore the argument in my opinion is bullshit and Sharjeel imam,however big scholar he may be,have to face the sedition case..And Islamophobia is a myth,and merely an excuse to hide illegal activities like this speech under the hood of protest
It is that a small minority projects itself as the voice of IIT and other premier institutions. All unlawful activities and sedition-based comments should be prosecuted to the full extent of law.
These people are using their media connection to defame IIT. If they are so confident about what they stand for, why the hell they need to tell if they belongs/ed to IIT.
coz they got MTECH and not BTECH for which IIT is known for . Sharjeel comes from OBC Muslim category the same Muslims who say Islam doesnt have Caste system . What a joke ? 2) They got the same through Caste based Quota and not through ooen competetion . 3) Not even a Dog Goes to study Mtech or PHd in IIT . Mostly are back benchers of their respective college or came through Caste and Quota
Stop ur nonsense and shit replies..
Good of you to take shelter of your reporter. Why don’t you listen to full speech and come clean with your views as a respected journalist. Don’t try to hide.
Always victim card politics
The words used by ex student of IIT, Mr. Imam, are enough to prove his hidden intentions of creating anarchy in the nation. Being an IITIAN, doesn’t mean he is unquestionable nor can be granted immunity for his seditious speech. I have heard his speech, anyone with common sense can easily understand his break india motives. Chalooo print tum apnaa agenda jaari rakhooo. ?
Are these iitians of some particular community ?beacuse only bigots like this community can support such thungs
Sharjeel imam’s language was not as soft as what is portrayed here. He said “if 5 lakh Muslims come together they can cut-off Assam at 40km wide Chicken neck that separates it from rest of india” This was the language used. So if Sharjeel Imam gives stupid statements he’s a responsible citizen because he’s a scholar and understands what he says. If stupid statements are given by Giriraj Singh or Sadhvi Pragya they are divisive and against the idea of India. Vah!! What a hypocrisy!!!
We all have to stand firm and United against this West funded media organisations whose only motive is to make Bharat weak from inside. And it seems that daily’s like “The Print”, “The Wire” etc. tries to play a centre role in breaking India.
We must boycott these types of organisations and teach them a lesson.
Check the bkgrd of these 148, are they jihadi supporter.