More than 200 academicians, including vice-chancellors of various universities across India wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning the Left-wing anarchy in educational institutes.
Among the signatories are vice-chancellors of different universities, registrars, senior faculty members from universities across India. The letter comes close on the heels with the Left-wing violence in JNU.
Taking a dig at various Left-fringes that perpetrated violence in educational institutions, the eminent academicians said, “We observe with dismay that in the name of student politics a disruptive far-left agenda is being pursued. The recent turn of events in campuses from JNU to Jamia, from AMU to Jadavpur alarms us to the deteriorating academic environment due to the shenanigans of a small coterie of left-wing activists.”
They alleged in the letter that the worst sufferer of the kind of politics being played in universities are poor students and those from marginalised communities. “They lose out on the opportunity to learn and build a better future for themselves,” the letter reads.
The SIT (Special Investigation Team) of the Delhi Police, which probes the incident had identified several Left-wing criminals and released photographs of the assailants, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, who unleashed violence on the campus on January 5. Of the total suspects named by the police, seven belong to the Left-affiliated student outfits.
Here is the full text of the letter: ‘Statement against Left-wing anarchy in educational institutions’
We a group of academicians would like to convey our concern over the prevailing atmosphere in academic institutions. We observe with dismay that in the name of student politics a disruptive far-left agenda is being pursued. The recent turn of events in campuses from JNU to Jamia, from AMU to Jadavpur alarms us to the deteriorating academic environment due to the shenanigans of a small coterie of left-wing activists.
This has led to the disruption of academic activities and day to day functioning of these institutions. The attempt to radicalised the students at a young age is stifling free-thinking and creativity. It is turning them more into political activists than learners exploring the new boundaries of knowledge. The puritan moral certainty in the name of ideology is leading to the cultivation of intolerance against pluralism and individual liberty. From the high seat of debate and discussion, university campuses are being turned into islands of ossified worldviews.
This has not only lead to violence between different sections of students but also intolerance against the teachers and intellectuals. It has become difficult to organise public talks or to speak independently due to the censorship imposed by left-wing politics. Strikes, dharnas and shutdowns over maximalist demands are common in left strongholds. Personal targeting, public slandering and harassment for not conforming to the left ideology is on increase.
The worst sufferer of this kind of politics are poor students and those from marginalised communities. They lose out on the opportunity to learn and build a better future for themselves. They also lose out on the freedom to articulate their own views and alternative politics. They find themselves constrained to conform to the majoritarian left politics. We appeal to all democratic forces to come together and stand for academic freedom, freedom of speech and plurality of thoughts.
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