Why should the State fund the universities or higher educational institutions like JNU, DU, FTII, which are promoting anti-national activities of Naxals?
Dr Ravindra Agrawal
Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has given a call to the youth of India to register their names in the voters’ lists and exercise their role in the democratic policy in the ensuing elections. However, contrary to it, the Naxalites are thrusting guns in the hands of the youths and even children, and are pushing them on the path of violence denouncing their faith in the democracy. The unfortunate irony, however is, the involvement of some of the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), financed and supported by the Central Government as one of its prestigious institutions in the country established in memory of the first Prime Minister of Independent India.
The involvement of some teachers and students in providing intellectual support to Naxalites came to light when the Garchiroli police in Maharashtra arrested a JNU student Hem Mishra last month and interrogated Delhi University professor GN Saibaba recently. Though some of the JNU students’ bodies pleaded for their innocence, the Maharashtra police are firm on their findings that exposed the links of these students and teachers with the Naxalites. Mishra even used to work as courier for Naxal leader Narmada Akka.
Earlier, a PhD student of JNU, Bansidhar Singh alias Chintan, was arrested along with his seven accomplices in February 2010 in Kanpur in connection with Naxalites. The relations of JNU students with the Naxalites remained in focus for quite some time. When on April 6, 2010, the Naxalites ambushed the CRPF camp in Dantewada in Chhattisgarh killing 76 jawans in cold blood, the All India Students’ Association (AISA), and Democratic Students’ Front (DSF) celebrated the event. Their closeness with the militants of J&K and North-East is an open secret. The popular slogan of AISA is “Naxalbari Lal Salaam” (Red salute to Naxalbari) and that of DSF is “Naxalbari ek hi Rasta” (Naxalbari is the way).
The Naxalites trained their guns on JNU with the well thought strategy to spread their tentacles amongst the urban youth and students. It may be mentioned that in 2011-12 the JNU received grants from the Central Government and the UGC to the tune of Rs 276 crore.
The Naxalites, of late, are eyeing the young boys of ten years. In Latehar of Jharkhand, a ten year old child, Pardesi Lohara was killed while training to handle explosives. They kidnap children of tender age to increase their cadre and force the schools to send students to them. On September 6 this year an English daily published a news that the Naxalites recruited 4000 kids and children including girls in their cadre and initiated them into the violent gun-culture. Unfortunately, the Central Government in spite of its tall claims of providing right to education and, the human rights organisations and secular intellectuals who organise seminars etc. on the rights of the children are observing criminal silence on this grave matter.
The contacts between Naxalites and Maoists of Nepal are often in discussion recently. Yasin Bhatkal of Indian Mujahideen was arrested on August 29 from Nepal border. Bhatkal, in the interrogation by NIA accepted that he had visited Nepal a few days ahead of the July 7 blast at Mahabodhi temple. He also disclosed that intelligence agency of Pakistan was conspiring with the Naxalites to spread terror in India. NIA maintains that the explosives used for blast in Mahabodhi temple resembled the ones usually used by the Maoists. Bhatkal’s statement makes it clear how the intellectuals in Delhi are singing praises of the naxalites and their revolution who have been busy in destabilising this country.
The Naxalite activities which began in the 60s will be completing its 50 years of bloody existence soon. They succeeded in converting the eastern part of the country into a Red Corridor but not as a region of equity, and equality, but a region where violence and anarchy dominates. The Naxalites collect levy to amass a huge wealth while the local Vanvasi and poor villagers are left to fend themselves. Some of the Naxalites have become the puppets in the hands of politicians also. The May 25 attack
on Congress Convoy in Chhattisgarh’s Darba valley in Sukma district where 28 Congress leaders and activists including PCC Chief Nand Kumar Patel, former Home Minister Mahendra Karma and senior Congress leader Vidya Charan Shukla were mowed down by the Naxalites indicate to this reality. One of the top Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh was accused of masterminding this bloody ambush in collaboration with the Naxalites to eliminate his political rivals.
Some students and academic staff members of JNU, DU and FTII are frequently found openly praising the Naxalites, their activists and supporting their anti-India activities. Is this the glorious objective for which these institutions were founded by the Centre by a statute of the Parliament?
(The writer is a senior journalist)
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