The Jadavpur University Showdown
- In Current Affairs
- 05:00 AM, Mar 01, 2016
- Ranabir Bhattacharyya
Within five months of the Congress manufactured ‘intolerance’ debate, Jawaharlal Nehru University, one of the premiere institutions in the heart of Delhi, witnessed yet another motivated 'anti-national' experiment. This time 'Afzal Guru Diwas' was organized in the JNU premises and on February 29th anti-India slogans were raised within the university campus. This of course snow balled into a huge controversy that has refused to die down.
On February 17th, Jadavpur University in Kolkata witnessed a similar rally supporting the JNU protestors where there were posters supporting Afzal Guru and Yakub Memon along with seditious messages like 'Azad Kashmir', 'Azad Nagaland', 'Azad Manipur'. Students affiliated with Left parties were seen accusing Narendra Modi's government of strangulating free speech and shouting slogans. At the same time Jadavpur University also witnessed other set of students who brought out rallies in support of 'Bharat Mata' with national flags. Although the opposition remarked that they were ABVP backed rally, in reality the procession was rather spontaneous. No police action was taken by the local government nor did the Jadavpur University VC Suranjan Das seek any police help. West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi asked for a report from VC himself on the ongoing protest. The statement of Suranjan Das read, "Jadavpur University will not support any anti-national activity. I spoke to the student representatives and they have categorically stated that they had no role in the protest. Students have said that they do not endorse anti-national slogans. That rally was not officially convened by the students' union. Certain fringe elements raised the slogans, we condemn it. Entire university can't be defamed. I will never govern the university with the police's help, it is an autonomous body. I have not yet received any letter. If we receive any letter we will pursue internal university mechanism to probe. The rally started from Jadavpur and then roamed around other streets. The students' union has categorically stated they have disassociated from particular fringe elements who raised slogans."
Time and again the so called pseudo Bengali intellectuals have taken refuge under the broken umbrella of leftism. From calling Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Japanese General Hideki Tojo's pet dog to supporting the Chinese in 1962 Indo- China war, Marxists have not really covered themselves with glory. "China's Chairman is our Chairman; China's path is our path" was the slogan emanating from Marxist Camp those days. Jadavpur University has been a left bastion forever and now pretty much a hub of Left extremists. During Maoist mayhem in Bengal, Jadavpur University came into limelight for all 'active' sympathizers. Thus the present pro-Afzal Guru march in and outside the Jadavpur University doesn't come as an aberration. It would be extremely inappropriate to say that majority of the students of Jadavpur University took part in the pro-Afzal Guru agitation, but there are definitely some students, who are integral to pro extremist student organizations in Jadavpur University premises.
Interestingly, the ruling TMC government has been silent altogether. Although the ministers of the TMC cabinet are used to remarking on every other issue, they are absolutely mute on the issue of Jadavpur University. Incidentally Jadavpur University has always been a tough anti-TMC fort and until now TMC is yet to win elections in Jadavpur University. With election in two months, it seems TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will not risk any political adventure in ultra-left bastion Jadavpur University. The rise of ABVP is not quite a threat but cannot be completely ignored by TMC. With RSS backing, there has been a resurgence of ABVP in Bengal. The Congress support to the anti-national experiment in JU truly falls in line with their plan of teaming up with CPIM for the Assembly Elections.
There is no denying the doubt that the anti-national rallies in and around Jadavpur University remain a part of the bigger propaganda of the Congress and Left brand of politics. It seems very similar to the Award Wapsi and intolerance debate. The way some media organizations are targeting HRD Minister, Smriti Irani in a pure misogynistic tone, it is almost certain that situation will become uglier. As can be said with most Leftist bastions, Jadavpur University is no more a temple of higher learning but a den of radical left elements and those who are trying their best to destabilize the country.
Comments