Fairoz Khan is the first from Jammu and Kashmir to become the national president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI). In Kozhikode to launch a campaign by the Kerala Students Union, he spoke to A.S. Jayanth on issues such as the Centre’s alleged intrusion on campuses, NSUI’s role in student politics, and Kashmir.
Edited excerpts from an interview.
Ever since the BJP-led government came to power, there has been student revolts across the country. But, NSUI could not be seen in the front. Why?
I was in charge of Telangana and we had taken up the issue of Rohith Vemula. AT the JNU too, we supported the agitation and Rahul Gandhi spoke there. At Banaras Hindu University, when girls were not allowed to eat nonvegetarian food, we stood up for the students. When students were thrown out, we protested. We may not be in the forefront of these agitations. I did not want to score a political point and prove that I am a good speaker.
There is a trend on campuses across the country whereby students’ groups not affiliated to any political party are taking up major issues and mainstream students’ groups later on are supporting them?
It is true that some people are trying to take political benefit out of students’ issues. If we had to take benefit of Rohith Vemula issue, or the JNU affairs, we could have done that. We don’t have any political interests. We believe student activism should be separated from political activism. We need to focus on students’ issues like fee hike and hostel issues.
How can you be apolitical at a time when the Union government is making political interventions in academic affairs?
The BJP wants to target students because they will raise questions. They know that the youth of this country will fight. At the top universities such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, Kashmir University, and Hyderabad University, you won’t find many followers of the BJP ideology. We will raise our voice for the students there.
Then doesn’t that become a political fight?
I meant we won’t storm the streets to fight for students. Our fight will be limited to universities and colleges, and ours is the only organisation with a pan-India approach.
You have civil service toppers and IIT toppers from the State, but the perception about Kashmir is that there is only terrorism there, why?
True. Of late, there have been unfortunate incidents in the valley. Three years ago, there was a peaceful atmosphere. What changed after 2014, I have no idea. What provoked violence is a mystery. I believe both the Central and State governments have ruined the State.
About the future role of NSU(I) and KSU?
The BJP knows that their rhetoric will not get them votes. So they will now want to create fear, and they want to polarise the country. That’s why they are attacking universities because there you create the best of minds, the best of leaders. We will stand with students. In Kerala, we will soon see the KSU in a good form.
