JNU in a fix over Kashmir poster

New Delhi: A day after the JNU administration ordered removal of a controversial poster demanding “freedom for Kashmir and Palestine”, it is now in a dilemma on pulling the poster down, as it does not want a “fresh controversy” on avoidable issues. While the JNU rector on Friday said that security personnel tried removing the poster and would try again, another senior official said a decision is yet to be taken on it.

“We had ordered the security officer to pull down the poster on Thursday but they could not due to opposition from students. They will try again as such activities cannot be allowed on campus,” the rector said. “We will enquire about the poster from the particular outfit and decide on further action,” he added.

Another senior official, who did not wish to be named, said, “A final decision could not be reached because we do not want to be seen as curbing anybody’s freedom of speech and expression. However, we do not want any fresh controversy as lot of time has been wasted on these avoidable issues.” The Left-leaning Democratic Students Union (DSU) had pasted a poster on the wall of the new block of the School of Social Sciences (SSS) with the message “Freedom for Kashmir! Free Palestine! Right to Self Determination Long Live! DSU” written on it. Some students noticed the poster and informed the administration.

The JNU authorities asked the university security to remove the poster in the evening but it hasn’t been removed yet.