Civil Rights Activist Teesta Setalvad Denied Entry To IISC Campus

Prominent civil rights advocate Teesta Setalvad has reportedly been denied entry to the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) campus in Bengaluru by security personnel. The incident transpired as Setalvad was scheduled to deliver a speech titled Communal Harmony and Justice, organized by the student group Break the Silence. The scheduled event, slated for 5 pm, was expected to address crucial issues of communal harmony and justice. However, just hours before the speech was to take place, Setalvad was informed that she would not be allowed to enter the institution, according to allegations made by students involved in organizing the event. Initially, security guards stationed at the IISC gate prevented Setalvad from entering the campus. Following discussions with faculty members, it was proposed that Setalvad be granted access. The student organizers stated that they had acquired permission for the event a week in advance and had been coordinating with authorities accordingly. A sudden turn of events led to a meeting with the registrar’s office, where it was conveyed that the director was unavailable and, as a result, the booked hall could not be utilized for the talk. Despite this setback, the authorities indicated that the event could still be conducted on the campus premises. However, despite being accompanied by students and adhering to the standard practice of providing visitor information, Setalvad encountered resistance from security personnel. It is commonplace for visitors to supply their details before entering the premises, and entry may be denied if proper information is not provided. Despite this, student Surjadeep D Sarkar noted that the denial of entry did not appear to be due to an information gap.