JNU V-C clarifies Army tank remark
Says idea is to have a symbol' on campus which signifies link between JNU and cadets.
New Delhi: While clarifying his stand to install an Army tank on the JNU campus, varsity vice-chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar on Wednesday said the idea is to have kind of “symbol” on the campus, which signifies a link between JNU and the cadets who passed out from these institutes.
“The alumni passing out from these defence institutes said why not have a symbol on the campus. So, in that context, I mentioned that why not. If the alumni want to donate a tank we can have it on campus.
“So, it could be a tank, an aeroplane, a ship or another kind of thing, which signifies the link between JNU and the cadets who passed out from these institutes. Only because of this I have mentioned it,” Mr Kumar told a news agency.
“The cadre who pass out from there, whether Air Force, Army or Navy, their academic programmes are approved by the academic counsel of the JNU and their degrees are given by JNU. So therefore, the students, the cadre who pass out from these institutes are our own elements. So, whenever I visit these institutes or when the alumni visits JNU, they wanted to have ‘more collaboration’, ‘more contact’ with JNU,” he added.
Earlier, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and CPI strongly criticised his demand. “It’s strange to have people of such mentality. How would Army’s tank be an inspiration?” Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal had said.
CPI(M) leader D. Raja said that the JNU V-C should be instead demanding the instillation of the renowned mathematician Aryabhatta as it would convey some message.
On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas on Sunday, the JNU V-C had called on minister of state for external affairs Gen. V.K. Singh to help the university procure a tank to constantly remind students of great sacrifice and valour of Indian Army and defence forces.