In a development that is going to shake the foundations of pseudo-liberalism and anti-nationalist ideology, JNU Umar Khalid and Kanhaiya Kumar have been punished by JNU’s high-level inquiry committee. The JNU committee has upheld the expulsion of Khalid and the fine of Rs. 10,000 on Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with the infamous campus event in February 2016 in support of Afzal Guru, the terrorist who had been convicted for a dastardly attack on the Parliament. The campus protest had been organised in opposition to Afzal Guru’s execution. The shameful event had called for India’s destruction and balkanisation. The anti-national slogans were defended by many with political objectives in mind. However, it seems that those responsible for this unfortunate event have finally been taken to task.
Earlier, the JNU panel in 2016 had recommended expulsion of three students including Umar Khalid. It had also proposed a fine on 13 students for violating disciplinary norms, along with the then student’s union president, Kanhaiya Kumar. Following the action by the JNU panel, the students had approached the Delhi High Court. The court had made a direction to the University to place the matter before an appellate authority to review the panel’s decision. The penalty has also been relaxed for some students and no punishment will be meted out to the former JNU students. However, the rustication of Khalid and imposition of a fine on Kumar has been upheld. Khalid, Kanhaiya and Anirban Bhattacharya had been charged with sedition and arrested in February 2016 for the controversial and anti-nationalist protest. The trio is now out on bail.
As per reports, during the review proceedings of the panel, the accused were permitted to vet the documents and videos of evidence. They were also presented an opportunity to present their version and defend themselves before the appellate authority. It is, therefore, clear that the review proceedings have been conducted in a proper manner and in compliance with all the principles of natural justice.
Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid represent the extreme side of the leftist-liberal cabal which went to the extent of supporting secessionism and sedition for political gains. It was only after the shameful event organised in JNU that certain sections of BJP and Modi haters started asserting that it is their right to support terrorists like Yakub Memon and Afzal Guru. In the garb of free speech and the right to criticise the government, slogans inciting balkanisation of India and its destruction were justified. While Khalid is more aggressive of the two and frequently makes pro-secessionist remarks, Kanhaiya is a shrewd communist and tries to play the victim card before the mainstream media. What is unfortunate is the fact that some mainstream political parties which cannot look beyond elections and party lines have expressly backed Kanhaiya and have hailed him as an epitome of free speech. His unholy association with the anti-Modi front is further corroborated by his statement that, “If there is an alliance of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Left in Bihar, and they ask me to become a common candidate and collect money for my election, I can be a candidate.” This clearly shows that Kanhaiya is being backed in a big way by the anti-Modi political coalition.
The JNU high-level committee has therefore done a great job by sending across the message that one cannot abet India’s destruction and go unpunished. Student freedom is acceptable, but it does not mean that the students go around organising pro-terror and anti-national events within the University campus. This comes as a stern message for the entire “Azadi” gang which used to think that they can profess or propagate whatever they want even if it amounts to impinging upon India’s integrity.