After details of Pakistan’s ‘Father of the Nation’ Jinnah’s portrait being displayed in the renowned Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has shocked the entire nation, huge protests have been taken place within the university campus which are eventually taking an ugly turn. Even though the vested interests within the university have been totally exposed, they have still come out with “Azaadi” slogans similar to those that resonated in the JNU campus in 2016.We can remember how the condemnable act on part of the comrades within the JNU campus angered the entire nation. It looks like they are upset over the demands of removing the portrait of an extremist Muslim bigot. The mischievous elements in the university have started propagating with their anti-India and anti-Hindu agenda.
One of the slogans is very much audible in a video footage was “bhagwa atank se azaadi” (freedom from saffron terrorism). It is beyond comprehension how asking for the removal of the potrait of a mass Hindu murderer is saffron terrorism. The Hindus do not want to impose any unreasonable restrictions against the Muslims or in fact on any other religion. However, it does not mean that the one who is responsible for mass Hindu killings can be openly admired in the Indian universities.
The present controversy started in the university over the details of a portrait of Jinnah displayed in the campus. There were demands to remove the portrait of the mass-murderer infamous for the ‘Direct action day’, that was responsible for merciless killings of thousands of Hindus. ABVP has called for a removal of the portrait and a deadline has also been issued. BJP MP Satish Kumar Gautam had also written to the Vice-Chancellor of the University demanding that the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on display in the Students’ Union office should be taken down with an immediate effect.
Now, those supporting Jinnah’s ideology within the AMU have come up in arms against India itself. Realizing that they are exposed before the whole nation and have no plausible defense, they are just doing what the anti-India lobby always does. Banking on the entire “freedom of speech” lobby, these anti-national elements within the university think that they will easily get away with these slogans. Even though the government takes some action against them, the entire anti-national nexus will play the free speech card for them. Later on, the government will be projected as the villain and blamed for clamping down on students for “harmless sloganeering”. However, the liberal lobby does not understand that this strategy has already failed and back fired for them badly.
The AMU is a central university and does not enjoy the minority status by virtue of a 1967 Allahabad High Court judgment. Therefore, the government is not spineless in this matter. In fact, the AMU being a central university, PM Modi’s government is free to go hammer and tongs after the miscreants within the university. Those espousing the Jihadist ideology similar to one espoused by Jinnah in his heydays must be taken to task. Espousing such an ideology and creating hatred in the society is an offence in itself. The government should go full throttle and take every possible action against them. From disciplinary action at the university level to strong criminal cases, no stone should be left unturned to rein in such rogue elements. Religious extremism and anti-national sentiments cannot be allowed to penetrate in any university in the guise of free speech and academic freedom. Anyone who indulges in secessionist activities should be dealt severely, irrespective of the extensive propaganda carried out by their support system. There is also a need to apprehend and take preemptive measures against the anti-India cabal which is trying to corrupt young minds across Indian universities.
