The Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) chairman Zafarul-Islam Khan on Tuesday issued a notice to the Registrar of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) asking him if there was any concept paper or proposal to include a course on “Islamic Terror” at the proposed Centre for National Security Studies at the university.
The DMC has also sought information about the areas to be covered under this subject.
It also sent queries about the sources, methodology, reference books and asked about the main experts expected to take part in the implementation, research and teaching of this subject.
The Commission has asked for a full list of the members of the university’s academic council marking those who were present during the meeting where the proposal to start such a course was adopted. The panel also, questioned if the agenda item was put to vote and if so, what was the result. The administration has been asked to file its reply to the questions by June 5.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind general secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani has also written to the JNU V-C condemning the decision to introduce ‘Islamic Terrorism’ as a subject. Mr Madani said the decision was ill-conceived and would hurt the sentiments of not only Muslims but all those who believe in respecting all the religions.
“Labelling any religion with such epithet as terrorism is the ultimate insult and as such it is most abominable and condemnable,” Mr Madani said.
Mr. Madani urged the academic council in JNU to reconsider the decision specifically linking Islam with terrorism and suspend this move for the wider interest and threatened legal action if JNU administration failed to do so.
The JNU Academic Council had allowed the tabling the proposal to set up a Centre for National Security Studies under which “Islamic terrorism” would be a key area of focus according to a report presented in the recent AC meeting by a committee set up to look into the setting up the Special Centre.
