‘We were not raising slogans’

Even as a case of sedition has been filed against unknown persons for allegedly shouting “anti-India” slogans inside the JNU campus during an event on Afzal Guru, the organisers of the event have distanced themselves from the controversy. The students who were part of the committee that organised an event to mark the death anniversary of Afzal Guru said that none of them were part of the group that was shouting slogans.

A purported video from the event shows students shouting anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans. Students in the video are heard saying slogans like: “Kashmir ki azai tak bharat ki azadi tak, janh rahegi jari” .

A student who was a part of the event organising committee, told

The Hindu : “The programme was a cultural evening organised to question the working of the Supreme Court. It was also meant to bring the grievances of the Kashmiri citizens to light. The struggles of ‘self-determination’ must be openly spoken about. Considering this is a democratic republic, why should dissent be suppressed?”

Meanwhile, the JNU Student's Union also condemned the incident and raised questions on the way the varsity administration tackled the issue. “One day prior to the cultural event, a comprehensive copy of the details of the event were sent to the administration. We went by the book and sought permission by the Union. Then why was the permission revoked at the last minute? The administration clearly runs at the behest of RSS Goons,” said Kanhaiya Kumar President JNUSU.

Priyadarshi, a student of the JNU and an active member of the ABVP said: “The 10 people who were behind this event should be rusticated or expelled. Why did they pay homage to Afzal Guru? They are sending a very bad message to the country. In effect, they are converting an intellectual hub into a terrorist hub.”

(Fatima Khan is an intern with

The Hindu )