Red salutes shared space with the saffron brigade and identity politics vied with secular rhetoric at the ‘Presidential Debate' on the Jhelum lawns of Jawaharlal Nehru University here on Tuesday night as ten student leaders stood face to face with their peers, fighting it out for the students' union president's post -- with only words as their armour.
“Don't forget and don't forgive...ten years ago Muslims were massacred in Gujarat by these people sitting in front here,” said AISA candidate Sucheta De, jabbing a finger at the ABVP students seated in front, before adding: “From the AISA we give those victims our red salute…Irom Sharmila braves on with her hunger strike in Manipur…she has our red salute…there are farmers agitating against land acquisition policies perpetuated by those in Parliament who frame their policies according to the wishes of the IMF and the World Bank… we give these farmers our red salute.”
Her rousing speech was received with whistles and students armed with drums declared their agreement loudly.
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However, it was the two independent candidates who put up the best show with their devil may care attitudes and repeated assurances that they did not want to win.
“I have no need of your votes… and it doesn't make a difference to me what you say… are you laughing at me? Laugh at yourselves…you have been fooled,” said Baljeet Singh, an independent candidate, before proceeding to talk about the hidden agendas of all political parties on the campus.
He was met with loud hoots but braved on nonetheless. “I will have my say, no matter how much you shout,” he screamed back to the laughing audience comprising students affiliated to the Left, the Right wing, the Congress and almost every other political party.
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The hoots slowly turned into cheers and he walked away amid loud claps.
“How can we trust these Left parties? …I will tell you how they fight for your rights. The price of the university prospectus went up and they said they will barricade the counter selling them in the university… the simple fact that these prospectuses are available elsewhere in the country did not occur to these intellectuals! They then don't even barricade the counter… they go on hunger strike…and the whole issue ends with an apology letter… my dear friends, this is the story of their struggle,” said Javed Iqbal Wani, another independent.
However, the student organisations were not to be left behind as every shortcoming of the national political parties was excruciatingly examined in lurid detail by their rival students' wing.
“The Congress is looting the country and the BJP is sitting and watching the fun in Parliament,” said SFI candidate Zico Dasgupta before explaining why Communism was the need of the hour for the betterment of the university and the nation.
“These Communists talk about all world issues but there is no talk of caste atrocities in any of their propaganda” said BSF candidate Dinesh Kumar, waving pamphlets containing CPI (M) material. “These people pretend to be atheists and say they will protect the minorities because they do not conform to any religion...then why do you celebrate Holi and do Saraswati Puja on the campus?” he asked the audience.
The caste card was also played up by AISBF candidate Jitendra Kumar Yadav. “It is only because of the OBC movement that there is an Obama sitting in the White House,” he screamed and added: “JNU's identity is being threatened….we are at a crucial juncture, we have to make a union and you have to choose sides… who can bring about this much needed change? Well, it is only Jitendra Kumar Yadav who can do this.”