UnAcademy educator named Varun Awasthi has made a provocative speech in which he says that the day is not far when every student will drop their pens and pick up AK-47 rifles.
In a clip that has gone viral on social media, he says in Hindi “Think something.. Atleast now think.. Atleast think for the nation.. You make statements like ‘Will not let the country bow, Will not let the country disappear..’ (referring Prime Minister Modi). Mahatma Gandhi said that India’s soul lives in villages, till villages don’t develop India won’t develop. So.. Modi ji, if you don’t want to let the country down you will have take these youth along with you. If not, the day is not far.. just like how you blocked Jammu Kashmir.. here too every student will drop the pen and pick up AK-47. It does paint to hear. It does pain me to say this. But it is the harsh truth. That day is not far. Look at the history, whenever someone has gone the wrong way, it is because it somewhere his pocket was burnt. When these youth have no way to earn money and eat, till how long their parents can take care?” he says emotively.
As the video went viral, Varun Awasthi removed the video from his Facebook profile. He later apologized in a Twitter reply to a tweet by Ankit Jain who had tagged Delhi Police for taking action. He said that he didn’t mean it and that it was the ‘emotions’ of his students’ pain. “I’m taking back my words. Apology to all.”
I Varun Awasthi, apologising for these words. I didn't mean it , actually it was the emotions of my student's pain. I'm taking my words back. Appology to all. Please take this tweet down.
— Varun Awasthi GS Guru (@VarunAwasthiGS1) September 1, 2020
Online news portal OpIndia which reportedly accessed the full 20 minutes video reported that Varun Awasthi did try to instigate students to pick up arms.
Meanwhile, UnAcademy in a tweet has distanced itself from Awasthi. It said that it does not endorse any content or communication from its educators that instigates hateful or unlawful behaviour. “We expressly prohibit such activities and encourage educators to stay lawful in all situations. We’re investigating this matter and will take appropriate action.”, it said.
Unacademy does not endorse any content or communication from Educators that instigates hateful or unlawful behaviour. We expressly prohibit such activities and encourage Educators to stay lawful in all situations. We’re investigating this matter and will take appropriate action.
— Unacademy (@unacademy) September 1, 2020