As the controversy over the ban on an online magazine and suspension of the student editor Devansh Mehta continues, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday attended a graduation ceremony at St. Stephen’s College.
Devansh, who got relief from the High Court in the form of stay on his suspension, also attended the function. Devansh said that he respects the Chief Minister’s decision to attend the ceremony and is happy that he was also able to be a part of it.
Mr. Kejriwal attended the ceremony even as a section of students had urged him to turn down the invite to “support freedom of speech”. In a statement, the association of Old Stephanians said: “Disappointed with Mr. Kejriwal for displaying total disregard to the appeal of students and alumni including hiatus between what he preaches and actually practises.”
Devansh – the editor and co-founder of the online magazine “St Stephen's Weekly” – was suspended from the college on disciplinary grounds after the principal objected to his interview being published in the magazine and alleged that the students had failed to take his permission.
Delhi High Court, however, stayed his suspension from the college on Friday allowing him to attend the graduation ceremony. The students of the college and alumni had come out in his support and had sent a petition to Mr. Kejriwal urging him to turn down the invitation to be the chief guest at the ceremony.
