NIN Web Desk : (Dr subhrojyoti chattopadhyay); After Mahmood Khalil, the Trump administration has started the process of ‘deporting’ at least two more foreign students of Columbia University in the last one week. Like Khalil, a Palestinian student named Leka Kordia was arrested after her visa was canceled and labeled as an ‘illegal immigrant’. Although not arrested, like Khalil and Leka, an Indian student named Rajni Srinivasan has had her visa canceled and left the country. Rajni completed his graduation from the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad. A few years ago, with the ‘Nehru Fulbright Scholarship’, this accomplished student got the opportunity to do MA at Harvard University and PhD at Columbia University. He got the opportunity to work in several other educational institutes in America including MIT for his research on ‘eco-friendly urbanization’. While studying at Columbia University, he joined calls for a cease-fire in Gaza last year due to his involvement with left-wing politics. Because of this, Rajni was the victim of the wrath of the university authorities and the Trump administration.
The Trump administration’s Home Office accused Rajini Srinivasan in a statement Friday of having “Hamas connections” for her active role in protesting Israel’s genocide, along with 1,300 other Columbia University students. Like Khalil and Leka, his ‘F-1’ student visa was revoked and labeled an illegal immigrant on March 5, for unknown reasons. To avoid arrest, left the US on Tuesday and returned home. The Trump administration has taken away the right to an overnight education from one of the country’s most accomplished students. Meanwhile, Modi did not dare to say two words on this issue like other five issues including customs policy. On the contrary, the BJP IT cell has started calling Rajni a ‘piecemeal gang’ and ‘urban Naxal’. In tune with the Trump administration, Hindus are spreading propaganda on social media calling him an ‘agent of Hamas’ has started.
Several hundred American students who participated in the anti-genocide movement at Columbia University like Khalil, Leka or Rajni are being punished. They are subject to show cause, suspension, degree cancellation, or expulsion without notice of complaint. This is the first time since 1968 for political activity at Columbia University. Students face expulsion. Under the direct orders of President Trump, various disciplinary measures are being taken illegally against students protesting against Israel’s genocide at various universities in the country, including Columbia. After the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil last Saturday, Trump wrote in a threatening tone in a post on social media ‘X’, “Extremist, anti-Indian, pro-Hamas student leader of Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested on my orders. Several more such arrests are to follow. Students from other universities like Columbia who are carrying out anti-Semitic, anti-American activities for terrorists, all of them. I will find out and chase him out of the country.”
All these arrests are taking place in a totally autocratic manner. In this case let’s take the arrest of Mahmud Khalil. On March 8, around 8:30 p.m., two officials of the US Department of Internal Affairs suddenly rushed to his house and picked him up. His student visa and green card were reportedly revoked overnight on direct orders from the White House. Khalil has been detained in a detention camp in Louisiana, 1,500 kilometers from his home, labeled an ‘illegal immigrant’. For the first few days, he was not allowed to meet his lawyers or talk on the phone. Khalil’s child-bearing wife has been threatened that she will be arrested even if she does not divorce. Finally, on Wednesday, the lawyers were instructed by the court.
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