The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) on Thursday said it was “unfortunate” that the movement against Professor Atul Johri, who has been accused of sexual harassment by eight women, was being termed as a “political conspiracy”.
‘Vested interests’
“What is unfortunate is that a particular organisation with vested interests has sought to use this matter to portray the entire movement to suspend Prof. Johri as a political conspiracy. This is a serious insinuation that has been levelled against not just the JNUSU but against each of the eight complainants, who are leading the fight for justice,” the JNUSU said.
The students also condemned the fact that the complainants’ names had allegedly been disclosed by Prof. Johri’s lawyers on television. The students community has been demanding Prof. Johri’s suspension since the allegations against him became public.
Five of the eight women who have accused Prof. Johri of sexual harassment had addressed the media on Wednesday and said they were “appalled” that the professor was granted bail within minutes. They had also alleged that they were under pressure from various sources to withdraw their complaints and had accused the university administration and the Delhi Police of “shielding” Prof. Johri.
The JNUSU added that abrupt replacement of the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) by the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) has had adverse effect on the campus.
“Sexual harassment within the university has been a matter of debate and vibrant political struggles in JNU, leading to setting up of the GSCASH. Its abrupt replacement with the ICC however has generated a crisis on campus,” said the students’ body.
‘Deplorable’
Demanding that the GSCASH be reinstated, the JNUSU body said, “The role of ICC has once again been deplorable as confidential e-mails have been leaked and no orders have been issued by the nominated body so far. ICC needs to be held accountable for its failure to act till date.”
“The JNU community’s apprehensions regarding the ICC and the possible gender justice it can deliver when compared to an independent and autonomous GSCASH has come alive with this incident today. The GSCASH, which evolved better mechanisms to ensure a fair inquiry, should be reinstated immediately,” the union added.
