The University which was started as a liberal arts university was under attack for curtailing freedom of speech
Few months after a faculty member resigned from Ashoka University over the Kashmir petition signing issue, the university has distanced itself from the matter saying that they had no problem with the petition but with the fact that Ashoka's name was associated with it.
Ashoka University, a liberal arts university situated in Sonepat was criticised severely a few months ago after a petition demanding plebiscite in Kashmir, signed by a few students and staff of the university created an uproar. Two of the staff members had resigned towards end of last year and a faculty member who had signed the petition submitted his resignation around December.
The University which was started as a liberal arts university was under attack for curtailing freedom of speech.
In an interaction with DNA, Founder and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Ashoka, Vineet Gupta said: "With the Kashmir petition issue, university's objection was not with the petition or students signing it but with the misuse of the university name."
"Ashoka has a 1000 strong community and the petition was signed by only 81 people, among them also, only 30 were current Ashoka students. The views of such a small number of people cannot represent the view of Ashoka," he added.
The founder further said that the university maintains its status as a liberal arts university and there is no attack on freedom of speech, students are free to do whatever they want.
According to sources in the university, the two staff members who had signed the petition, out of whom one was from Kashmir, left out of insecurity and fear of action after the petition went viral and the matter became out of control. Administration had on its own not hinted any action. They have also given them an offer to join back after a few years if they want.
The petition that was started by a former Ashoka student had received 81 signatures, mostly from Young India Fellows who were earlier associated with Ashoka. Following the controversy over the petition, Haryana police had also written letter to the university asking who is the student behind the "anti-national" petition and asked them to share his/her details with them.
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