Smriti Irani. (PTI Photo) Smriti Irani. (PTI Photo)

Over 600 professors from universities across Delhi Friday wrote to Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, expressing their “concern” over the February 9 event at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and terming it an “unpardonable anti-national” act.

The letter, written by UGC member Inder Mohan Kapahy among others, has been sent by BJP-backed National Democratic Teachers Front (NDTF).

“We write to express our concern at the diabolically planned attempt by politically motivated groups to foment trouble and turmoil amongst students of various universities to destabilise the existing structures of governance.

“The Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, dissent and presenting alternative paradigms but it is equally true that what happened on 9th February 2016 at JNU does not fall within the aforementioned parameters,” the letter stated.

“There may be an argument on strict legalistic terms as to what constitutes sedition, but it is crystal clear that what happened in JNU was an unpardonable, anti-national act which has to be both condemned and curbed,” said the NDTF.

“A dominant majority of students and teachers is totally opposed to the anti-national and unpatriotic activities of such groups who are hell-bent on causing avoidable tensions and turmoils in the social fabric of India,” the organisation said.

In an apparent reference to JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who was arrested on charges of sedition over the event, the teachers said, “Those who raise such slogans and those who protect them with convoluted arguments, swear by the right of freedom and dissent provided by the same Indian Constitution.”

Kher says JNU refused to screen his film, varsity denies charge

Actor Anupam Kher Friday alleged that the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has refused to screen his film Buddha in a traffic. Accusing the university of “stifling freedom of speech and expression”, Kher said that he was told that the university cannot allow the film to be screened owing to the present atmosphere at the campus.

The university said no request from Kher has been received by them for the screening of any film. PTI

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