The All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (AIFUCTO) has warned the Cente of a nationwide protest by teachers, students and staff if the JNU issue is not resolved at the earliest. The union has also asked the government to justify its action against the students and teachers of JNU by providing factual evidence. Meanwhile, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has also held a meeting of various students and teachers bodies to prepare a strong protest against the “excesses” against the JNU students.
As a sign of solidarity with the students and faculty of JNU who were being targeted, teachers, academicians and students from TISS held a meeting in the campus outside the institute’s convention centre. All those present wore black badges and lectures were also not conducted. The teachers also voiced their support to the JNU protestors by issuing an open statement criticising the atrocities on protestors. In fact, even TISS director S. Parasuraman addressed the students and teachers about the JNU incident but took precautions by barring the entry of media persons and also asked those present to switch off their mobile phones.
AIFUCTO’s general secretary professor Arun Kumar and president, professor Kesab Bhattacharya, in a joint statement released on Thursday condemned the arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar on sedition charge without any substantial proof. They said in the statement that it is a political move to malign the face of JNU and it is a direct attack on freedom of speech and aimed at downsizing the autonomy of the universities.
The statement further said, “AIFUCTO expresses its deepest concern over a series of incidents which have occurred in JNU campus and outside, in the past few days. Shouting anti-India slogans in support of terrorists and their patrons is a matter of gravest threat to our national security and this cannot be tolerated. AIFUCTO condemns the action of subversive elements. But at the same time, AIFUCTO appeals to the central government not to use the incident as a ploy to defame and tarnish the image of JNU that has been
one of the most democratic institutions of higher education in the country.”
