The Research Scholars of University of Kashmir organized a ‘Signature Campaign’ within the University campus in front of Alama Iqbal Library to express their support for JNU students who are being harassed, threatened and mistreated under legal tyranny. The scholars opened the campaign with an Eleven-point memorandum to question the fascist politics against the minorities in India and the emerging anti-secular and pro-fascist nationalism in India under the RSS ideologue. The memorandum also raised the issues of Rohith Vemula’s suicide, arrest of Kanhaya Kumar and suspension and witch-hunt of JNU students. Condemning the attacks on students, teachers and journalists at Patiala House Court, the memorandum termed such incidents as the state-backed fascist propaganda aimed at terrorizing the common people of India. The campaign expressed the support for promoting the Voice of dissent in universities and condemned the attempts to curtail the freedom of speech and expression. It raised voice against those who are using students for their political and economic gains.
While talking to media Ashfaq Ali, the coordinator of the program said, “We have organized this peaceful and non-violent Signature Campaign in solidarity with the JNU students who are being targeted by the fascist agencies in India. We stand by the student community for their voice against autocracy. We condemn Kanhaya Kumar’s arrest and demand his release. We are against the propaganda of RSS who are targeting JNUSU students. We stand for strengthening the Voice of Dissent in universities with due recognition to the freedom of speech and expression.”He further said, “We have prepared, highlighted and distributed our Eleven-point memorandum in Solidarity with JNU. Research Scholars and students of the university, as well as other students who are here for entrance exams came and signed in solidarity with JNU.”While shouting anti-RSS and anti-BJP slogans, Parvaiz Ahmad, a university scholar said,” We demand the release of Prof. S. A. R Geelani and kanhaya Kumar who became the victim of political vendetta. The growing fascist powers in india are entirely against the intellectual community like Dr. Qasim faktoo who is in custody since 23 years. We have organized this event in support of JNU students who have been mistreated from the day first, the JNU row started. The voice of dissent must be heard at every level as it forms the essence of modern democratic nations.Sameer Fayaz, one of the scholars, while speaking about the event expressed that “There should be a rational critique within the universities and we stand for it”.
Riyaz Sopori, another scholar said that “The program was organized in solidarity with JNU students. We stand with the students who are being targeted for political benefits and propaganda. Our agenda has been displayed under Eleven-point memorandum. We stand with JNU”.Hakeem Farooq, another scholar is of the opinion that “We, the scholars of Kashmir University, stand up in strapping hostility to the current actions which have extended at JNU, especially those involving the arrest of the JNUSU President, among other disproportionate measures. We strongly condemn of the liberated supremacy given to the police to question, detain and arrest any student or faculty member for voicing their opinions. We believe that university spaces are forums to discuss, question and debate all issues including fundamental political issues from different perspectives. University campuses are, and should be, spaces where people can peacefully voice their opinions, raise questions and disagree with each other on issues which concern us all as a part of the polity”. (CNS)