‘JNUTA has reached the nadir of moral bankruptcy’ – Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers? Federation lambastes JNUTA’s support for anti-national Sharjeel Imam

JNU Teaches Federation has strongly condemned the support the communist teachers association the JNUTA had extended to Sharjeel Imam. In a press statement the JNUTF has criticized JNUTA saying that the Communist teachers association has reached the nadir of moral bankruptcy.

Questioning the intentions of JNUTA, the statement reads “The support shown by the JNUTA towards the person accused of ‘sedition’ tantamount to providing support to ‘anti-national’ and anarchic elements of society. The web of arguments created to protect the accused of sedition in the JNUTA statement also raises questions about the intentions of JNUTA”. The JNUTA in its support of Sharjeel Imam had said that his comments do not warrant charges of sedition and his arrest was an attempt to curb dissent. It then blamed ‘extreme politicization’ of the conduct of the law enforcement agencies for the arrest.

Condemning that such support to anti-nationals and questioning charges of sedition, the JNUTF said that the democratic polity of India provides ample scope for disagreement on any issue. However the constitution of India provides that the ‘dissent’ in any form should not pose a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State and public order. It is also a fundamental duty of every citizen of India to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, says the statement.

Stating that the majority of the teachers in JNU do not support the statement of JNUTA, the JNUTF appeals to the JNU teachers and JNU community to maintain peace and harmony and let the law take its own course.

‘The Wire’ columnist and key Shaheen Bagh drama organiser Sharjeel Imam was arrested on Sedition charges for urging Muslims to cut Northeast from rest of India. The JNUTA had come out in his support and also blamed the Delhi Police for not arresting the culprits of the JNU violence in January 1st week but showing undue urgency in the arrest of Sharjeel Imam. The JNU Teachers Association which is largely made up of faculty with Communist ideology are seen as the real instigators for the unrecognised JNUSU and its anti-National activities.