JNUSU calls for boycotting convocation

New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) on Mon-day called for boycotting the university’s convocation on Wednesday, accu-sing JNU vice-chancellor of “muzzling their democratic rights”.

The JNUSU alleged that for the last two-and-a-half years, they have witnessed a “systematic destruction” of the campus “led by its vice-chancellor (V-C), M. Jag-adesh Kumar”.

“The vice-chancellor and his political masters, through their anti-student and anti-social justice policies like research seat cut, scuttling reservations, fee hikes, victimisation and targeting of student activists through fines and punishments, have tried their best to

demolish JNU and all that this university stands for,” the students union said in a statement.

“We would like to say it loud and clear — Mr V-C, we have earned the degree because of our efforts and the commitment of our teachers. We owe our degrees to the democratic culture of JNU, and the destroyer of JNU has no moral authority to distribute our degrees!” the statement said.

The students union also called the convocation a “photo-op” in the name of distribution of degrees and appealed the JNU community to “boycott the VC’s convocation”.

Almost 46 years after it held its first convocation, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will be hosting its second convocation this month for awarding degrees to PhD scholars.

The union will also be holding an event inside the campus after the convocation on August 8. Former union members and teachers are expected to attend the event.  

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