Alleged raising of anti-national slogans at the varsity campus during an event held on February 9 for observing Parliament convict Afzal Guru’s death anniversary invited heavy flak from all quarters. Kashmir ki Azadi. Manipur ki Azadi.
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The joint press conference was addressed by leaders from student outfits such as All India Students’ Association (AISA) of CPI(ML), All India Students Federation (AISF) of CPI, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) of Congress, Students Federation of India (SFI) of CPI(M) and Student Forum For Swaraj (SFS).
Some fringe elements gave these slogans.
Earlier on Wednesday, supporters of ABVP allegedly clashed with the Jadavpur University union students after they resorted to tearing posters reading “anti-national slogans”. He added that as VC it was his “responsibility” to ensure that students have their “right to protest” and that their “freedom of speech and expression is protected”.
“In university, the police has no role. I will never call police in the campus”, Das said. “Azadi” for us signifies freedom from atrocities, atrocities of the Modi government, and freedom from intolerance”, said a student leader named Nirjhar Mukhopadhay, who was one of the main organisers of the event. The smaller group shouted slogans of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and voiced their concerns against yesterday’s torch rally.
“The BJP Government, which had accompanied terrorists to Kandahar, and now taking about anti-national slogans, they will have to pay for their blunder”, he added.
Three students, who organised the protest, Shounak Mukherjee, Saikat Sheet and Priyosmita too distanced themselves from those who raised secessionist slogans.
“At a time efforts are on to peddle a fundamentalist brand of nationalist across the country, and brign about communal polarisation, and undermine left student politics, such irresponsible acts will strengthen the hands of the fascist forces”.
The Centre today had sought a report from the West Bengal government regarding it.
As controversy involving Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU) students intensifies, Jadavpur University students in Kolkata expressed solidarity with JNU students on Monday. On February 16, another rally was taken out by some students of JU.
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“We don’t trust ABVP”.
