Row over Umar Khalid book event: JNU cancels venue permission, ABVP claims credit
JNU Students' Union, professor say admn lying that full details of event were not shared; ABVP, student wing of RSS, claims cancellation came after its campaign
A scheduled discussion at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Umar Khalid's book, "Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power," has sparked controversy between the university's Left-led student union and the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The event, organized by the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) to mark International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, was set to be held at the School of Social Sciences-I auditorium on August 10 at 3 pm.
However, the university withdrew permission for the venue, citing "non-disclosure of the full facts about the program." The ABVP claimed victory after their campaign against the event, labeling Umar Khalid, who is currently in jail for alleged involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots, as a "deshdrohi" (anti-national or traitor). The JNUSU rejected the administration's reason for cancellation, arguing that the booking form was filled out correctly with the Dean's advice, and accused the administration of selective rule application.
The ABVP also claimed credit for the cancellation, stating that the university's land should not be used to glorify someone accused of serious anti-national activities and violence.
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