It was scheduled from February 3 to 5; right wing bodies including ABVP, Panun Kashmir and Bharat Bharati termed it anti-national.
The Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce was forced to postpone its programme ‘Voices of Kashmir’ on Monday after various right wing organisations opposed it alleging that holding such a programme was ‘anti-national’. Now, the police say there was nothing to talk to the media about the entire episode because it was a ‘matter between us (the police) and the college.’
The seminar was to be held between February 3 and February 5.
Eminent personalities like senior journalist and one of the interlocutors appointed by the Centre to seek out various shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir, Dilip Padgaonkar, actors MK Raina and Meeta Vashisht, Sanjay Nahar of Sarhad and Retired Brigadier P Raine from University of Pune’s department of Defence and Strategic Studies were to participate in it.
However, members of right wing organisations including Panun Kashmir, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Bharat Bharati and Hindu Jan Jagruti Samiti on Monday met the college authorities and claiming that the seminar was ‘anti-national’ demanded to widen the subject.
Rishikesh Soman, principal of Arts and Commerce College said, “It was not only ABVP which had a role to play in postponing the college seminar. Organisations like Panun Kashmir, Hindu Jan Jagruti, Bharat Bharati had also objected along with ABVP and demanded that the content of seminar be broadened.’’ Soman said the meet was being postponed and not cancelled.
According to the sources, the college authorities had approached the police for protection. However, when contacted by DNA, DCP Makarand Ranade said, “It is a matter between the college and the police. There is nothing to be discussed with the press.’’
Soman said many people had objected and the college authorities explained to them that it was a college seminar. He added that the ABVP then informed the college that it intended to submit a revised memorandum to the college authorities.
Speaking to DNA, state coordinator of Panun Kashmir, Rahul Kaul said, “The title of the programme was misleading and the entire programme was anti-national in nature as it projected only one side of Kashmir issue. The film Jashn-e-Azadi, which portrays the army in bad light, was to be screened. When the film did not receive a censor certificate, how can it be screened in a college?’’
Rohit Bhat, Pune coordinator of Panun Kashmir, said, “We have no objection to people exercising their right to speech. But it does not mean that you can take an anti-national stand and malign the image of the country. Why not present an unbiased view rather than projecting a partial view?’’
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