JNU Protests: Are they mere voices of dissent?
- In Current Affairs
- 03:21 AM, Feb 16, 2016
- Ramaharitha Pusarla
It is an irony that as loathsome condemnation of the nation is at its crescendo, political parties and its allied elite paraphernalia is engaged in ludicrous debate of brushing aside implications of these concocted ideas of dissent. Does any democratic nation under the banner of freedom of speech allow anti-nationalist voices to have a free ride? As ridiculous as it sounds, there can be no other outlandish definition of right-wing and left-wing as the one that exists in India. According to the Indian definition, speaking about national interests and security makes a person right-winger and so by the same logic, leftists are the ones who have no qualms about the security of the country.
Notwithstanding the ridiculousness of these labels, any responsible citizen would raise cudgels in response to the indignant comments made in reference to their nation. A sense of belongingness towards nation imbued in every citizen entitles them to speak up when anti-national forces try to run amok with frenzied indoctrinated postulates right in the heart of the country. It is appalling to see debates conducted in frivolous manner on issues which are as vital as national security. There can be no alternative opinion and empathy towards ideologues whose affiliations are inimical to nation’s interests.
Truly, the bush fires ignited along caste and religious lines are slowly rousing unwarranted passions in the society and taking a great toll on India’s aspirations of making it big. The students union at JNU obtained a permission from the University authorities to organize a cultural event on Feb 9th. With the real agenda of the cultural gathering held under wraps, students obtained permission to conduct the event. The permission was withdrawn at the eleventh hour when the varsity administration received a tip-off from other sources. The event as it turned out to be was organized to protest the hanging of Afzal Guru, who was convicted and was given death sentence for his role in the attack on Indian Parliament in 2001.
The protests soon gathered momentum in the campus and were marred by anti-India slogans. With the videos of the sloganeering becoming viral across the social media, student association defended them by saying that they were airing voices of dissent. They maintained that in a democratic society, people are entitled to have an alternative opinion. It is unfortunate that intellectuals and saviors of free speech with rambunctious English rendition castigated the government for threatening democracy and crushing thinking (1). PB Mehta in his op-ed was highly critical of Narendra Modi’s government and opined that “universities are spaces of open debate”. Interestingly, the illustrious history of the university reveals that the place has been intellectual nourishing den of leftism.
A few instances of its glorious past strikingly reflects its hypocrisy. The place has several ignominious distinctions. In 2010, JNU students association organized an event to celebrate massacre of 76 CRPF jawans during the operation Green Hunt launched to crackdown Maoists in Chattisgarh (2). For long, elected representatives of the country were shown black flags and their entry was prevented into their campuses. The article asserts that “being anti-national is not crime” and implores that definition of patriotism in the present scenario has been narrow. Logic fails to comprehend how patriotism can be narrow. It is a pity that noble traits like patriotism are subjected to bipartisan scrutiny. It is parody of logical cynicism as how people can defend the outrageous slogans like- Bharat ki barbadi tak jung rahegi jung rahegi…
Another article titled-‘Why our universities are in ferment’ by Nivedita Menon in The Hindu expounds about the raising overtures of politics in the universities (3). The message portended by author is clearly biased. Her deplorable animosity towards the right-wing and its allied youth organizations while abdicating leftist ideologues of all sins is not convincing. Interestingly if campus is truly democratic why is any alternative ideology, hunted, chased and least tolerated? While the elite Indians lambasted Modi government for suppressing freedom of speech, Freedom House- a democracy watch dog organization in its latest reports disapproved the intolerant propaganda (4). The organization which uses the standards endorsed by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and civil liberties of individuals, categorized India as a free country on par with other American and European Countries. Indeed the leftists who sing paeans to Mao’s China and empathize with our Western neighbor, to their surprise are labelled as non-free countries.
While liberals allege massive crackdown on the students, how should the protestors raising slogans- India, you shall be divided; Afzal, your death will bring a revolution and Afzal we are ashamed, your murderers are still alive be construed? Does any sane democracy under the guise of freedom of speech tolerate this? Can India which is currently battling the onslaught and return of terror and contending the insidious plans of being encircled by belligerent neighbors, risk national discontentment from an elite education institute? With regards to overflowing compassion for the executed terrorist Afzal Guru, the university should feel ashamed that not only are their immature students gullible to indoctrination, but are also misinformed.
The terrorists who launched brutal attacks on the Indian consulate Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan inscribed on the walls of building that “Afzal! Your death is avenged”. Fourteen people lost their lives in attack on Indian Parliament. The attackers from JeM, launched twin attacks simultaneously on Indian airbase at Pathankot and on Indian Consulate. Even the blood of soldiers who defended nation’s security within the country and abroad hasn’t dried yet and their apologists defend the actions of JNU students. What kind of cynicism can approve India’s educated youth to identify with aspirations of terrorists?
Notwithstanding wide spread public disapproval, political parties of all hues are queuing up to JNU condemning action against students who championed these reprehensible acts. Why are the bellicose fool-hardy intellectual snobs discreetly silent towards the sedition charges slapped on Kamlesh Tiwari who is still rotting in jail? Sadly our democracy is too outstretched. It is slowly losing its sheen as the line between patriotism and anti-India sloganeering is getting blurred. Recent disclosures of Rajendra Kumar, who was implicated in Ishrat Jahan case indicated that 26/11 could have been avoided but for the complacency of Indian politicians. Currently when the World is wrestling hard to annihilate traces of terrorism how can India afford to ignore the vocal support of youth to terrorists?
Indian defense personnel and public have hardly recovered from the tragic death of 10 jawans serving at Siachen glacier. Kashmir is an ongoing war zone. In these circumstances if ordinary people have no sympathy for JNU protestors they cannot be blamed.
Indian government has now decreed that serious action would be taken against the students which may include slapping sedition charges. In a display of solidarity, 3000 odd students and faculty formed a human chain demanding dropping of charges against the students. It is illogical to dilute and subvert the whole issue by simply dismissing the protests as an act of Kashmiri youth questioning the judgement of Supreme Court. Nobody seems to have objected to these protests in larger JNU community.
At a time when local Kashmiri youth are indoctrinated to wage a jihadi war against Indian Union and Headley revealing Pakistani terror outfits actively recruiting Indian citizens to carry out their mission, it would be ridiculous to push entire issue under carpet. While liberals argue that acts of petulant youth be pardoned, can government risk overlooking strong voices of dissent gathering empathies and support from a range of political parties and vested interests?
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