Half of a dozen student groups at Jamia Millia Islamia Thursday organized a parallel protest program against the “university administration’s dare attempt to saffronize the campus” by conducting seminar on “Modi@20: Dream meets delivery.”
Hundreds of students raised slogans against the varsity authorities under the banners of Fraternity Movement, All India Student Association, Campus Front of India, Students Islamic Organaisation of India, Students Federation of India, National Students Union, DISSC and AIRSO.
As part of Azadi Ki Amrit Mahotsav, celebrating India’s 75th year of Independence, central universities across the country have been conducting seminars on the same topic.
The invitation of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh senior functionary Indresh Kumar to the seminar, who was earlier accused in the Malegaon and Ajmer blast cases, has faced strong dissent from the students of Jamia.
“The students have gathered to raise our voices against inviting such people who have harmed the country and who are currently accused in many cases”, Campus Front of India leader Zaki Hamdan told Maktoob.
AISA leader Shoaib said: “What we have to say is that we won’t allow Indresh Kumar to enter the campus.”
Swaleh Ansari, secretary of SIO Jamia Millia Islamia addressed the gathering and said that since several years Jamia administration is just fulfilling the demands of a saffron party.
“Rashtriya Muslim Manch which was founded after 2002 Gujarat Muslim genocide to whitewash the crimes of BJP government is now attempting in a minority Institution like Jamia Millia Islamia can’t be accepted,” said SIO leader.
After the historic anti-CAA protest, Jamia Millia Islami has partially re-opened for the offline classes recently. But, the strengthened police and paramilitary presence outside the campus is still the reality.
An earlier statement released by Fraternity Movement JMI read: “Ever since Jamia (partially) reopened for students after COVID, the police and paramilitary is the blighted reality of this university. Even for the slightest sign of dissent on any issue from any of the campus groups, Jamia, in no time, becomes a paramilitary camp by fortifying the gates and even restricting entry for its own students.”
“The hostile environment towards the students and all kinds of student engagements inside the campus have seriously impacted the quality of the academic and democratic atmosphere”, the statement added.
