Shiban Khaibri
There are many in this country to “take care” of our brand of Democracy and Right to freedom of speech and the political leadership would really do a lot of service to the country if it did not get the future of India- the students, involve in it mainly to create problems for the Government and thus show its muscles to score political points. This writer had articulated the same views in these very columns in response to the most condemnable act of demonstration of anti India and pro enemy feelings in Jawahar Lal Nehru University campus last year in early February. IIT – Chennai and Hyderabad University had set the trend which echoed with full intensity and in a bizarre manner in the JNU followed by Jadavpur University etc. Reports had that anti India forces had well planned enactment of such protests across the country in most of the educational institutions, nearly 118 but the same was nipped in right earnest. The fact of the matter is that instead of the leading mischievous faces like Khalid and Kanahya being behind the bars , they have been made to emerge as “leaders” and “emancipators” of the “suffering ” people. The rigors of law , in many cases , mostly in VIP related ones, unfortunately are proving lenient towards the accused against whom crimes have been established. Without prejudice to the wisdom of the law , many argue that many of those few who have been sentenced can be free on bail and indulge in every activity which an innocent law abiding citizen would otherwise do. Their sentencing thus gets turned into a virtual acquittal if not in the absolute term. Law needs amendment to the extent that a bailed one in only extreme cases should get conditional freedom which should not be his or her unhindered indulgence in political activities , holding press interviews, chairing Party meetings and the like.
Who invited Khalid, an accused of the charges of sedition and presently on bail to “address ” a seminar in Delhi University’s Ramjas College and expectedly ignite trouble in this college and be numbered as at No.2 after the JNU in becoming a fiefdom of controversies bordering at sedition and anti India ranting ? Not only he but another student Shehla Rashid who actively organized JNU anti India event last year too was invited . They would have not spoken words and shared ideas excepting the ones surreptitiously imbibed in them by their mentors both from within the country and outside as seen by the people last year indulged in by them in the JNU. The slogans like “Afzal Guroo teray qatil ab tak ziunda hain ” or “Bharat kay tukday hongay – Insha Ullah, Insha Ullah” and other obnoxious Aazadi slogans still reverberate in echoes for those who love this country as they live in this country. The intentions of the hosts, therefore, would have never been suspect had they knowingly not invited the same controversial “intellectuals” who had openly raised seditious slogans and organized protests in a prestigious institution like the JNU last year which was motivated by anti India hysteria to this extent that even in Pakistan one would not have witnessed.
The event at Ramjas College was titled as “Cultures of Protest” which speaks more about what was expected of Umar Khalid and others to speak and perhaps start fresh chain of protests, political “melas” by select self styled champions of liberty, democracy and right to speech etc. If patriotic wings of student unions disapproved of holding the event in the college campus and to be addressed by JNU trouble accused, why should there be a hush – hush backlash of anger by the “matured intellectual group” and Communists sponsored open protests by a students’ union with a tacit support from a section of media is appalling. The Principal did well to cancel the event and thus save the situation from getting out of control.
It may be noted that Umar Khalid’s father had been actively associated with Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and that speaks the background of politics in which Umar has been brought up and as to why he organized an anti India event to protest against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guroo last year. The event was titled with a misnomer or a guessing topic like “A country without a post office” to confuse and camouflage the real purpose behind the event which was totally anti India. The other controversial “guest speaker” Shehla Rashid was invited by Aligarh Muslim University Students Union some time back but later an FIR was lodged against her which speaks about the credentials of the prospective speakers at Ramjas College.
The question is as to why should in the name of, rather under the alibi of freedom of speech and democracy, peace, tranquility and patriotic sentiments be disturbed and who is all behind it? Why the universities become hub of anti India activities should be the basic question. It holds no water that personalities should not be confronted but the ideas as this advice is selectively dished out by those who wish the same not holding good even remotely in respect of the writer Tasleema Nasreen, intellectual Tariq Fateh and the like in our country. Why should the academic atmosphere of campuses like reading , learning, teaching , knowing and sharing knowledge be disturbed , unions of students mortified to clash, Police called in , force resorted to and the precious academic sessions of students wasted ? It is intriguing that the Principal of the Ramjas College had reportedly not informed the Police about the proposed event and about the sedition accused Khalid to be as “learned speaker”. Was he coerced into compromising with his duty in this respect or out of sheer complacency, he shrugged off his obligation, needs to be known. That some violence took place and Police had to use force too is not appreciated as well. Three cops stand suspended for allegedly using batons against agitating students. The college Principal would have emerged wiser had he preempted the situation from getting disturbed, had he not granted the permission for the event which later he had to rescind and if he had informed the Police.
It is really surprising that the elusive Aazadi slogans raised in some educational institutions now with impunity, should be taken lightly under the hollowed notion of, democracy being a structure of cauldron of ideas or “extra” patriotism shown by those standing in disagreement meant only jingoism. Jingoism was better in comparison to be infested with traitorous overtures. How can we allow such selective advocates of their brand of democracy and liberty remain dead silent on regular attacks on our security forces in Kashmir who protect people as well as this country even with their blood . With such events like the JNU and now Ramjas College , the morale of Jihadi terrorists gets emboldened . At the time of writing of these lines, as many as three of our brave hearts were ambushed in a town in Kashmir during the night and martyred. Those political leaders who want to score political points must bear in mind not to ignore loyalty to the country, towards its ethos and its rich ancient culture. They must feel concerned about the menace of terrorism which this country has been reeling under for 30 years. Please do not rope in innocent students for using as components to bring about unrest and disruptions on the campuses of the educational institutions. We should limit the exercising of democracy, liberty, freedom of expression and the like on the campuses only to an extent of enriching academic faculties, knowing more about concerned subjects , debate and discuss on topics not loaded with controversies . Teachers must not treat class rooms and lecture halls anything beyond teaching on subjects and imparting trainings to make the best of the students to excel in their subjects. Those teachers and students who want politics and politics of confrontation, establishing their standards of ideologies to be acceptable to all must leave the colleges – universities and resign , whatever the case be and openly contest political elections and build political careers but the two cannot go side by side. The Government must take a very serious look into it and not bother for the electoral gains and losses by firmly containing anti India activities, provocative sloganeering and hate protests on and around educational campuses.
How can we tolerate no change of hearts in those who shouted anti India slogans on the campuses of the JNU and wished fragmentation and destruction of India ? How can they be invited as “learned intellectual speakers” to speak in functions organized in colleges and universities of India when they want to actually speak against India? The Government must not allow this loathed virus of anti India spread any more as it is bound to wreck our national pride as also affect unity , peace and tranquility.
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