BackJNU sends notice to rusticated student Umar Khalid on documentary screening
A documentary on the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots was screened on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in August 2015
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New Delhi: A day after Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) sent a show-cause notice to Anirban Bhattacharya for participation in screening of a film on the Muzaffarnagar riots in August 2015, JNU on Friday issued a similar note to Umar Khalid asking him to explain his position.
Both Anirban and Umar are under rustication in connection with the controversial 9 February event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.
The fresh notices have been issued to the duo in connection with the screening of the documentary Muzaffarnagar Abhi Baqi Hai without permission from the university.
Alleging “targeting" by the administration, the JNU Students’ Union planned a screening of the same documentary on Friday night in protest.
“A complaint against you was received in Chief Proctor’s office in August, 2015. It has been alleged that you were involved in participation in screening of a documentary-film ‘Muzaffarnagar abhi baqi hai’ without permission of the administration near Godvari dhaba," the notice issued to Umar stated.
“You are directed to appear before the Proctor on May 4 and explain your position in this regard. You may also bring your evidence which you may wish to submit in your defence," it added.
The administration, however, kept mum over the reasons behind initiating this action over nine months after the event took place.
Following protests by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, JNU in August 2015 stopped the screening of the documentary on the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, saying no permission was sought for the event.
The movie was shown by the Democratic Students’ Federation; both Anirban and Umar do not belong to that group.
Umar said, “I have only one question to ask the JNU administration—it took you nine months to wake up from your slumber and realize this great indiscipline on our part! Is it a simple coincidence that the authorities chose to send this notice to us, when we are already into a movement against witch-hunt of students?"
JNU sends probe report to Delhi Police
JNU authorities have sent the report of a five-member panel on the controversial 9 February event to the Delhi Police. The report was sought from the chief proctor’s office by Delhi Police’s anti-terrorism unit, Special Cell, which is probing the sedition case.
“The Special Cell had contacted us for a copy of the report and we have sent the same," a senior university official said.
JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, Khalid and Bhattacharya were arrested in connection with the sedition case in February.
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