Addressing a press conference on Sunday, they called upon student unions, universities and colleges across the country to join them in protest against “growing suppression of dissent”.

Shubham Waydande, who has been rusticated and holds the position of vice president of the SRFTI students union said, “ While we are holding this press conference, my fellow students at SRFTI are being threatened of disciplinary action by the vice chancellor. He has already rusticated six students and said that there will be complaints filed against the protesting students. He has also closed down the institute. We have been told to vacate the hostels till November 13 and power supply to the classrooms have been cut. The water filters are not being maintained. We refuse to be intimidated.”

Aaron P Joy, another student, said, “It is evident what they’re trying to do. They are trying to dismantle the spaces of opposition and criticism, the core principles of our Constitution.…