Now Reading: JNU cancels event on Umar Khalid’s book, cites lack of disclosure
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JNU cancels event on Umar Khalid’s book, cites lack of disclosure
JNU has cancelled a student-organised discussion on a book by former student Umar Khalid, scheduled for Monday on campus, citing “non-disclosure of the full facts” about the programme. The event was to…
The Story in Brief
JNU has cancelled a student-organised discussion on a book by former student Umar Khalid, scheduled for Monday on campus, citing “non-disclosure of the full facts” about the programme. The event was to focus on Khalid’s book *Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power*, based on his 2018 PhD thesis. Khalid has been in custody since September 2020 in the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The university said the dean of the School of Social Sciences (SSS), who approved the booking on August 7, later cancelled it. JNU did not specify what information was withheld.
The JNU Students’ Union said the discussion will go ahead outside the venue, declaring, “Cancelling a room does not cancel a conversation.” The JNU Teachers’ Association called the cancellation “an administrative instrument” for policing academic debate. ABVP JNU claimed the event was cancelled after its protests and should not have been permitted.
The Indian Opinion
Both sides claim to defend academic freedom, JNU says its process was bypassed, students say the administration caved to pressure. The university owes a clear answer: exactly what fact was not disclosed in a booking form that named the faculty representative and purpose? Until that is given, the charge of censorship will stick. The test is whether JNU releases the booking form in full and explains its cancellation rule uniformly for all speakers, regardless of politics.
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, news.abplive.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
