An ideological impasse, protests continue in JNU: Dr. Tharoor speaks on campus
In our earlier report titled “Hoodlums wreak havoc,” we reported how India’s premier Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students were barbarically attacked by masked hoodlums armed with sticks, stones, hammers, and rods.
Over 20 students, faculty members including the President of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Student’s Union (JNUSU) were grievously injured and treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
THE CRUX
The ongoing impasse between the factions of the right and left has left the institution paralyzed. While many students affiliated to the left Student Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students Association (AISA) are mentioned in the FIR, the Akhil Bharati Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are also in the list of accused.
Students are not being able to register for their new semester, whereas there are numerous students who have not given their exams for the previous semester.
JNUSU has been vocal against the rise in fees of the University. They are also protesting the new Hostel Manual which transforms adult academicians to boarding school children. Many students will be compelled to leave their education midway if the new fee structure is implemented.
DR. SHASHI THAROOR ON CAMPUS
On the 12th of January, Former Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Minister of State for External Affairs, Member of Parliament of the Lok Sabha from Thiruvananthapuram Dr. Shashi Tharoor held an interaction program.
(Students gathered at the T-Point close to Hostel Sabarmati)
Over 200 students were present on the occasion a stone throw away from Sabarmati Hostel where the 5th January violence was unleashed.
Speaking to the gathering of students mainly affiliated to the National Students Union of India (NSUI) of the Indian National Congress Party (INC) Dr. Tharoor said ” we morally and metaphorically stand with you” expressing solidarity over the incident of violence on campus.
Dr. Tharoor then went on to speak about the reason for his party’s opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019 (CAA). He said ” why does the bill mention only certain religions, I have worked for the United Nations (UN) for refugees, never had we asked about religion. We have to get our asylum law back to international standards”.
Dr. Tharoor also alleged, “The government is only interested in allowing Hindi speaking Hindu’s while marginalizing a set of the population”. “Over 65% of the populations of India are undocumented”
Dr. Tharoor laid stress on how the current act was a violation of the moral principles set by the founders, “is this the country you cherished and valued ” he questioned the crowd of students intently listening and responding with claps and cheers. “In 72 years for the first time the ruling government has violated the ground rules, there should be respect for all,” he said.
Talking about the fee hike Dr. Tharoor said ” worries me, I know the government is broke due to foolish policies, this is undemocratic, the value of education should be respected with access to all”
Speaking about the educational value of the country he further stated that “money was never meant to be an obstacle for a humble family”. He stressed the need for unity, cooperation, and consensus.
A court hearing on the petition filed by three JNU professors directed tech companies Google and Whatsapp owned by Facebook, to preserve and provide information to the Delhi Police regarding the case of violence inside the JNU campus.
(Location and Picture Courtesy : Hanif, Swati, Vishant, Rohit, Sajad and Shamseer)