In Solidarity with JNUW and Freedom of Dissent: Manipur University
02 March 2016
In Solidarity with JNUW and Freedom of Dissent at Manipur University
Concerned Students and Staffs from Manipur University rallied for Kanhaiya Kumar yesterday evening at 3 pm at Manipur University, Canchipur. Public talks were given on “Nation and its Discontents: Free Speech to Repressive Laws” by Dr. Chinglen Maisnam, Babloo Loitongbam, Dr. Malem Nongthouja, and Dr. Homen Thangjam.
Kumar, the President of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), New Delhi, was arrested on 13th February, 2016 for a speech he delivered criticizing the Present Indian Government for calling JNU anti-national. Kumar belongs to the All India Students Federation (AISF), and it is considered as a wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI).
In Solidarity with JNUW and Freedom of Dissent at Manipur University
Detained on the charges of sedition, the arrest of Kumar has garnered many protests from academicians and opposition parties from India on the grounds of violating liberty and freedom of speech. According to the Indian Penal Code, Section 124A, any person can be penalized with sedition, if they are dissatisfied and go against the established law, or creates hatred and contempt against the government. Sedition charges even amounts to life imprisonment in India.
Of those who empathize the case of Kumar in Manipur University, they feel that the present government is trying the occupy the space of Indian Educational Universities and usurp the liberty to express their views. Some slogans such as “Stop Suppression of Intellectual Spaces”, and “Save Democratic Spaces” were raised.
As to how liberal views has come to be regarded as anti-national, Dr. Maisnam and Mr. Loitongbam give a powerful talk on ‘rise of fundamentalist forces’ and ‘shrinking of democratic spaces’ in India respectively. Aside from empathizing Kumar, the concern students and staffs strongly voiced for JNU and freedom of dissent.
In Solidarity with JNUW and Freedom of Dissent at Manipur University
* This Press Release was sent to e-pao.net by Pam Shaiza (Research Analyst, Project Guru) who can be contacted at pamshaiza(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This Press Release was posted on March 03 2016
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