Anti-national sloganeering at JNU - Student’s emotions or Politics?
Anti-national sloganeering at JNU – Student’s emotions or Politics?
Introduction:
On February 9, the student’s organization DSU (Democratic Student’s Union) initiated a dialogue meeting to commemorate the judicial killing of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat. Their meeting was to support the democratic rights to self-determination for people of Kashmir. DSU being a leftist group was immediately condemned by the right wing group ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) who tried to stop the meeting. DSU received support from Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union, SFI (Students Federation of India) and AISA (All India Student’s Association).
The meeting was attended by Kashmiri students from JNU as well as from outside the campus. When ABVP tried to interrupt the meet, these students lost their calm and started the so called “anti-national sloganeering.”
The arrest of JNU student and Union president Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of sedition is still being debated. It is yet to be confirmed whether or not he uttered Anti-National or Pro-Pakistan slogans. The waywardness of BJP legislators beating students and media people also spurred debates. Amid all these imbroglio, the main agenda to conform what led to the anti-national sloganeering is somewhere getting blurred. Was it politics that made a simple debate grow large or is it the real emotions of students?
Student’s emotions:
1. Kashmiri Students: It is totally being ignored that the slogans to free Kashmir were raised by the large group of Kashmiri students that gathered in the meet. These people, who have long been under the wrath of AFSPA, were annoyed to see the right wing trying to be authoritative. It is their own pleas and protests for the hardships that their home is facing since independence. These are the people whose home has not known peace for long. It is their right to engage in dialogues to vent out their emotions.
2. The hanging of alleged terrorists: People across our country in large numbers had protested the hanging of Afzal Guru. It is not a news that people have been against this judicial decision for many reasons. They believe that hanging this one man isn’t enough. Killing one of these people who believe that the freedom of Kashmir is their only solution is not the solution to make these people understand that India isn’t an enemy to Kashmir.
3. Adding fire to sparks: The slogan debate happened from both sides. The right wing student’s group also called out slogans like “those who support Afzal will meet the ends like Afzal” and “the graves of naxalites will be dug on JNU’s soil.” Anger spurred from both sides. Venom spilled in measured and unmeasured quantities. The violent sloganeering did happen from both sides as recounted by eye-witnesses in JNU. Arrest on sedition charges to the leader of one group agitated students clearly.
4. Accepting different views: Students engaging in violent sloganeering is bound to create wrath. They are not willing to listen to each other or hear what the other person has to say. They are simply growing with the ideology planted in their own minds. It is extremely satirical that the right wing celebrating the likes of Hitler and Godse names someone sympathizing with a terrorist as anti-national while their pro-killing-of-Gandhi attitude still makes them a patriot.
Politics:
1. Leftist v/s rightist: The entire incident that led to the arrest and sedition charges on Kanhaiya Kumar spurred out of the clash between the right and left wings of students union. The rightists tried to stop the leftists from having the meeting to commemorate the judicial hanging of Afzal Guru. They received support from the administration of JNU for the political support they can garner. The leftists in turn got agitated and conducted the meet in any way they deemed fit.
2. Poisoning the young minds: The students of a university come to the campus to study and build their career rather than getting involved in the politics. However, for the vote bank politics, the seasoned politicians try to lure the young minds with position, power and money & make them generate such moments which can stir the national politics.
3. Judicial System: The pro Afzal Guru slogans were actually against the judicial system which heard the case and awarded the punishment. The common man would not go out on the streets and campaign against the highly respected top court without a political support.
Conclusion:
People are slowly becoming programmed robots who work only according to the programs fitted into their system/brain. If one is leftist, he/she is only programmed to blame Modi for everything that happens, even if the hanging of Afzal Guru happened during the UPA government. If one is rightist, that gives him/her the ultimate right to judge, punch and kick anyone that talks in support of leftists.
It is us who have to take a rational view and see that we do not fall prey to any anti-national activities and propogandas.
Discussion
- RE: Anti-national sloganeering at JNU – Student’s emotions or Politics? -Milind Patel (03/25/16)
- The students who are raising anti national slogan's on the name of freedom of expression should be arrested and strict action should be taken without giving them a bail.This students should respect to government and nation which is providing a scholarship and facilities for education.If this would have happened in other countries,they would have hang these students.
- RE: Anti-national sloganeering at JNU – Student’s emotions or Politics? -Aditya (02/28/16)
- It is not about anti national or national, but about some group of people dictating rest what to do and what not to do. In a Democratic country like India ideas of every flavor must prevail until they are under the law. Peaceful discussion on even extremist issue is the backbone of democracy. If some group is punishable of raising anti national slogans, then there is always a room for those who are making them to do so. Both are punishable.
- RE: Anti-national sloganeering at JNU – Student’s emotions or Politics? -Namrata Rathi (02/26/16)
- Anti-national sloganeering at JNU cannot be called politics in a whole way.
On the point of poisoning of young minds, I would strongly disagree.Are this generation youngsters that easy to manipulate?
They have their independent minds and thoughts, their funda about almost everything is clear. One thing that is worth noticeable is that the majority of the students who have come down on the streets for the campaign are Kashmiris. They have all their rights to spill out their emotions when they know that their home, Kashmir has not seen peace for long.
We should harmonize our views on this issue and make sure that anti-national activities and propaganda are condemned. - RE: Anti-national sloganeering at JNU – Student’s emotions or Politics? -Paras (02/17/16)
- It is really unfortunate to see that the Students of such a prestigious institute of India have a dissent with the national spirit. It is true that everyone has freedom of speech, but one should raise one's agitation against the government or any right wing, not against the nation. The students at jnu are getting highly subsidised education and they should respect the national ideologies. If they have any dissent they could protest in a legitimate way, not by should anti-national slogans. This is a very serious matter and it should not be politicised by left wing.
- RE: Anti-national sloganeering at JNU – Student’s emotions or Politics? -kanhaikumar (02/17/16)
- Whatever happening in JNU campus and their reactions from political parties is very sad.in my view it is not student's emotions, because no one want to raise anti national slogan and commemorate a terrorist on their hanging day.it is just happenings to get political mileages. Different parties acts according to their political benefits, and comman students and society will effects.
