NEW DELHI: It was a rare but not unprecedented moment in the history of Jawaharlal Nehru University, when entire student community erupted to defy administrative restrains to muffle the voice over Kashmir in the campus and assert their democratic rights.
A students group had planned to organize a talk on The undying spirit of Kashmir: The question of self-determination on the night of February 11 at the Tapti hostel, but the permission for the scheduled programme was withdrawn in the last minutes by the University administration on the pretext that Zakir Hussain College Professor and SAR Geelani, who was an accused in the Parliament attack case though later acquitted of all charges was one of the speakers.
Although the JNU students Union contacted the University administration once again; but the permission was not granted. Miffed JNUSU and DSU decided to conduct programme at the same venue and same time.
As the programme began, activists of ABVP, affiliated to the Sangh Parivar, mobilized a handful of their supporters and sympathizers to stop the meeting that created ruckus outside the venue. When Professor Geelani reached the venue, they made a human chain and tried not to let him in. A large gathering of students came to the venue even before the talk began.
The chaos continued for sometimes as sloganeering and shouting began from both sides. Meanwhile, Professor Geelani went inside and delivered his speech. As he spoke on the issue of liberation of Kashmir inside, outside shouting and sloganeering continued against him.
However, a large number of students affiliated to different left groups had also gathered at the venue, who not only outnumbered them, but shouted slogans at the same high pitch.
Professor Geelani, meanwhile, during his talk asserted that freedom is the destiny of Kashmiris and nobody has power to avert them from getting it. Citing the examples of Maqbool Butt and Afzal Guru, both were executed and buried in Tihar jail, Geelani said, bloods of martyrs dont go in vain rather it comes to give a fresh and new life to the flame of freedom.
Criticizing the unjust hanging of Afzal Guru he said, Every part of this system is to strengthen the occupation in Kashmir, even Judiciary is used as a tool.
When Right to self-determination is considered as basic human rights internationally then why the same right is not applicable for Kashmiris, he wondered.
Towards the end of his speech, he appealed to the people from India to resolve the Kashmir issue because, as Geelani mentioned, is better for India and Pakistan and for Kashmiris as well.
As the talk was one, somebody from the audience shouted, shame on Indian democracy but same time a female voice countered saying this is not fault of democracy.
During his speech, there was power cut, although it was not clear if it was due to technical reasons or the authorities had purposely cut it.
As Professor Geelani was leaving, a long human-chain was built by the students and activists of left groups to assure his safety. As his car left the campus, these students followed till the Ganga Dhaba, near the main gate, shouting slogans against communalism and fascism.
The programme was held on the occasion of the first anniversary of the execution of Afzal Guru by the Democratic Students Union (DSU).
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