'Not the official stance': Harvard Club of India clarifies after alumni statement on Delhi protest crackdown
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
The Harvard Club of India, the official alumni group of the United States' prestigious Harvard University alumni in India, clarified on Monday that it did not endorse or issue any statement regarding the ongoing protests in Delhi.
Adding to this, On October 10, about 41,000 security personnel turned the Capital into a fortress on Saturday to thwart the planned protest. (file/AFP) The club was referring to a letter as per reports issued by 100 Harvard University alumni condemning "police brutality, unlawful detention, and violations of constitutional rights of all peaceful protestors" in Delhi during the protest held on October 10 against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
Meanwhile, On Saurday, October 10, about 41,000 security personnel turned the Capital into a fortress on Saturday to thwart the planned protest and launched an unprecedented clampdown that saw the detention of 7,000 people and left large chunks of Delhi deserted.
Notably, However, the club on Monday distanced itself from the reported letter and shared that the statement did not represent the organisation's official position.
As per the latest buzz, Rajat Sethi, a member of the club's Executive Committee, told news agency ANI that some Harvard University alumni had issued the letter without representing the organisation. He shared the clarification was necessary because the club had not issued or endorsed any statement on the protests or the detentions that followed.
In further updates, “As a member of the elected body of the Executive Council of the Harvard Club of India, which is the official alumni group of Harvard University alumni in India, I wanted to issue a clarification that certain individuals have gone ahead and issued a letter remarking on and making comments about the recent protest and the detention that followed. I wanted to issue a clarification that this is not the official position of the Harvard Club of India,” Sethi shared.
On top of that, He added that the club's charter and mandate do not permit it to issue political statements either in its own name or on behalf of Harvard University.
“Therefore, this clarification is to explain to the larger audience that certain individuals who happen to be alumni of Harvard University have issued the statement in their personal capacity. While we respect personal expression, that is not a substitute for institutional representation,” he shared.
Source: Hindustan Times