In order to “maintain communal harmony”, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration cancelled all events that were to be held on its campus to mark the 25th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on Wednesday.
In order to “maintain communal harmony”, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration cancelled all events that were to be held on its campus to mark the 25th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on Wednesday.
This included a talk on the “Ram Janmabhoomi movement” by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and a discussion in which CPM leader Prakash Karat was invited.
According to a notice issued by the Dean of Students Umesh Kadam, “The competent authority has cancelled public lectures/talks on the issue of Ram Janam Bhumi and Babri Masjid in the campus on December 6 in order to maintain communal harmony, and peace and stability on campus.
Academic discussion on various themes, which contribute to knowledge enhancement and social order, are always permitted .”
Swamy was invited by the Vivekanand Vichar Manch, a group of students, to deliver a talk on ‘Why Ram Mandir in Ayodhya’ at the University’s Koyna hostel. According to the organisers, they wanted to “salute the legendary fighter and martyrs” of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
However, the hostel warden issued a notice on Tuesday night and called off the event.
While speaking to media, Swamy, however, said that “JNU is fearful that my ideas will influence the youth. My arguments on Ram Mandir are so powerful that they won't be able to stand it."
However, JNU Students Union’s event titled “Reclaiming the Republic: In Defence of Our Syncretic Culture, Constitutional Morality and Secularism” where several left-leaders including Karat and Kavita Krishnan were supposed to speak, was not scrapped until Wednesday morning. It was later called off after the administration faced charges of being “biased”.
Calling the move a “Tughlaqi farman”, organisers of Swamy’s event said that they received the permission to hold the event four days ago.
“The administration would have let it happen if it was a meet on anti-Indian forces where slogans like ‘Bharat tere tukde honge’ would raise,” said Raghavendra Mishra, one of the organisers.
JNUSU president Geeta Kumari also termed it as “ideological censorship”. “JNU has been organising programmes on the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition every year.
Our programme topic didn’t even mention Babri Masjid or Ram Janmabhoomi,” she said. JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) also condemned the move.
Despite several attempts, Dean of Students Umesh Kadam did not respond for a comment.
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