Mysuru: The Mysore Bar Association (MBA) has refused to represent a girl who held up a ‘Free Kashmir’ placard at a protest held at the University of Mysore recently. The decision comes after several members of the association appealed to their president to ensure that no advocate represents Nalini Balakumar, an alumna of UoM.
Even lawyers who were willing to represent her, such as Advocate Prithvi, have reportedly stepped away and backed the association instead.
It can be recalled that the University of Mysore witnessed protests which were held to express solidarity with victims of the JNU violence. During the protest, Nalini allegedly held a placard that read ‘Free Kashmir’ in order to “draw attention to the internet shutdown” in the valley. Soon after photos of the protests went viral, police registered a suo moto case against her and other organisers of the protest.
Later, Nalini apologised for the placard in a video and said that she had no intention of creating any confusion.