Author: Times News Network
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 23, 2011
The Anna agitation found echoes in the IIT
convocation hall on Monday as one graduate received his degree in a Gandhi
cap while his batchmate stayed away from the ceremony in protest.
All this took place after PM Manmohan Singh delivered the convocation speech.
He was not around when the degrees were being handed over. Faculty members
were shocked that he walked out and broke the convocation protocol. "It
was an insult to students and their parents," said a faculty member.
Chandrakumar Patel took his degree in a Gandhi cap despite being asked not
to climb on the dais wearing it. "I believe in the movement against corruption
and will continue to be a part of the agitation," said Patel, an electronics
and electrical communications engineering graduate.
His batchmate Shashishekhar Singh, who has been fasting with him and about
30 other IIT students at Jhapetapur, about 2 km from the institute, stayed
away from the convocation.
The students had taken out a procession in support of the Lokpal bill, but
were asked to either stay away from the campus or face a lathicharge.