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The violent attacks on the students and teachers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in their fight for affordable education and right to freedom of expression have called for international condemnation.
Education International and its 400 member organizations representing 32.5 million teachers and education personnel in 171 countries has strongly criticized the incidents saying, “Universities are the institutions that prepare the next generation of leaders, protect freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and uphold the dignity and human rights of all students and staff by providing a “safe space” to exercise these rights and to participate and contribute to an equal, democratic and just society.”
In its statement, Education International also said, “Recent attacks at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Aligarh Muslim University, the Jamila Milia Islamia University and now JNU make it increasingly difficult for students, staff and their organisations to voice their opinions on government policies, politics and socio-economic issues, including their right to demand access to and provision of affordable quality education for all.”
Taking stock of the incidents where students of JNU were brutally attacked by the Delhi police during their fee hike protest and later the police inaction they witnessed as alleged right-wing goons attacked them in an attempt to break their strike, and also the brutal attacks on the students of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in the light of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, the institution has called on the government of India to:
1. Conduct a thorough independent inquiry into the violence and bring the culprits to justice.
2. Immediately remove M. Jagadeesh Kumar from the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University for his continuous failure to maintain a safe academic environment.
3. Ensure that universities uphold democratic values and human rights for all.
4. Pressure the JNU administration to engage with the JNU students’ union and teachers’ union to find a solution to their demands.
Apart from the Educational International, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) also wrote a letter to JNU Vice Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar saying, “Recent events at Jawaharlal Nehru University raise serious concerns about the integrity of the institution and its commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and the defence of its role as a community of scholars.”
Reaffirming that “universities have a special role in democracy” and “violence of any sort has no place in a University”, NTEU General Secretary Matthew McGowan asked the VC to “stand up to protect and defend the students and staff of the University, and to ensure that JNU’s long standing reputation as an defender of intellectual integrity and rigour is protected. We call on you and the Government of India to condemn these attacks in the interests of a strong and vibrant democracy, and to take all necessary actions to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice.”
The Commonwealth Students Association too put out a press release in support of rallies to condemn police brutalities during peaceful student protests. In its statement Asia General Representative Shomy Hasan Chowdhury shared CSA’s stand on the issue saying, “We are deeply concerned by the violation of human rights to “freedom of expression and peaceful public association” indicated in reports of unjust and inhumane treatment by the police officers.”
Its statement also read, “The Commonwealth Students’ Association encourages similar student-led rallies to decry police brutality and promote values of tolerance, respect and understanding articulated in the Commonwealth Charter. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that students’ rights, voices and interests are upheld and valued in decision-making processes and program implementation.”
The incidents of violence against students in premier educational institutions in India have had a seismic impact on the global educational community. This kind of show of solidarity has only bolstered student movements in India.
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