The Hindu : New Delhi News : JNU upholds its tradition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 20, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

JNU upholds its tradition

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 19. A day after students of Jawaharlal Nehru University upheld its democratic traditions, the campus was still simmering on Wednesday. Even as representatives of various student bodies called for immediate action against those who unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt a public meeting by S.A.R. Geelani -- acquitted by the High Court in connection with the Parliament attack case -- on Tuesday evening, a protest march was taken out on the campus by various student bodies late in the evening today to uphold the principle of freedom of speech.

At a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor, G.K. Chadha, student representatives demanded immediate action against certain Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists who allegedly tried to "gherao" the car in which Prof. Geelani was to arrive and later tried to disrupt the public meeting.

"This is not the tradition of our University. Our students don't climb cars and register protest in the manner that happened last night. That is not the culture of JNU. We give space to people of different ideological groups. We are waiting for the report by the Senior Security Officer before we decide on the next step. On the basis of that we will take a decision," said the Dean of Students' Welfare, Rajinder Dhingle.

But it was a win for the secular forces on the campus as Prof. Geelani managed to address the public meeting at the Sutlej mess, even as a violent mob gathered at the main gate and Sutlej mess to prevent him from reaching the venue. "The response from the students was tremendous. They gave us such a warm welcome and refused to be cowed down by those ABVP supporters. It was the students on the campus who stood up and got Prof Geelani to the Sutlej mess. They formed a human chain and protected him from the protestors. They also later escorted Prof. Geelani out of the campus. While the students were so helpful, it was the police that was supporting the ABVP," said the lawyer, Nandita Haksar, who also addressed the public meeting.

The drama lasted well into the night as students gathered at the Ganga Dhaba for a meeting after Prof. Geelani had been escorted out of the campus. "It was the students who had come out in full strength to listen to the speakers and to make sure that the meeting was not disrupted. The strength with which students ensured this was a reminder of the fact that ordinary students are keen on preserving the democratic space within the University," said Radhika Menon of the All India Students' Association.

Meanwhile, two students -- Praveen Kumar Nayar and Pritpal Singh Randhawa -- who were allegedly hurt in a scuffle near the JNU North Gate, also lodged FIRs at the Vasant Vihar Police Station. "We are demanding action against lumpen elements and for the right of freedom of speech. Incidents like what happened last night are not acceptable. They go against the democratic fabric of JNU," said Albeena Shakeel of the Students Federation of India, speaking about the protest march.

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