JNU cancels event on Umar Khalid’s book, says full information not disclosed

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has cancelled a student-organized discussion on a book by former student Umar Khalid, citing "non-disclosure of the full facts" about the program. The event was to be held on Monday at the School of Social Sciences (SSS)-I auditorium from 3pm to 6pm. Umar Khalid is currently in custody as part of a larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.

The university announced the cancellation on its official X handle, blaming the cancellation on the lack of disclosure of full program details. The university emphasized its democratic and decentralized nature, stating that the decision was made by the dean of the SSS, who also took action in cancelling the event. The event was planned to mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, with speakers including professors Prabhu Mahapatra and Uma Chakravarti, writer Shuddhabrata Sengupta, activist Harsh Mander, and Khalid's partner Banojyotsna Lahiri.

The booking process for the event went through formal channels, with the booking form specifying the purpose as a "public talk for adivasi diwas (book discussion)" and the date, time, and venue being mentioned. The cancellation notice was issued on Aug 9, with the approval of the dean of the SSS. JNU has not disclosed what information was not disclosed in the booking request.

In response to the cancellation, JNU Students' Union vowed to hold the discussion outside the venue, stating that cancelling a room does not cancel a conversation. JNU Teachers' Association condemned the cancellation as an "administrative instrument" for policing legitimate academic discussions on campus and demanded its immediate withdrawal.