HYDERABAD: Umar Khalid, PhD scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi spoke at ‘Remembering Balagopal’ programme, held here on Sunday. The student leader, who was slapped with sedition charges, appeared with unbridled enthusiasm to fight for achieving a just and egalitarian society. In an interaction with Express, he said he does not fear oppressive forces.
Student politics and activism have been there in universities for decades. Of late, there are many incidents of unrest and intolerance in universities. Why?
Student organisations like ABVP have been carrying out their ideology and activities in universities even in the past. But, after NDA came to power, ABVP has been emboldened and its leaders and members are acting as foot soldiers of RSS and BJP to spread their ideology. Therefore, they have become completely intolerant of different views and diversity in universities. People in government are openly backing and protecting ABVP activists. See how Sushil Kumar was shielded in Rohit Vemula’s incident.
Do you mean that situation was better in UPA regime? Is Congress more tolerant than BJP?
I’m not saying that. Even UPA regime was also intolerant. Congress is as much intolerant as BJP. But, Congress is shrewd and suppresses protests and agitations in universities deftly, while BJP is not so smart. During UPA regime, even NSUI was also intolerant and whenever a student organisation came up with different ideology or campaign, they were unable to accept. Political parties, either Congress or BJP or some other, wants to destroy student politics and activism in universities.
Why do you think that political parties are against student politics?
Because they cannot see some one questioning their anti-people polices and governance. If student organisations become powerful and vibrant, then they will question corruption, discrimination, harm done to environment in the name of development by governments. Also it is very difficult to suppress student agitations or movement. Therefore political parties want to root out or weaken student organisations.
Also the unrest we are witnessing in universities is mainly in central universities and not in state universities. Any reason?
I don’t think there is any specific reason for central universities becoming hot beds for agitations and unrest. Even in central universities, only few like UoH, JNU, University of Allahabad are vibrant. Many other central universities are very calm and passive in case of student activism in India.
How do you analyse student politics at present?
When compared to the past five years, student politics has started to play a bigger and a vibrant role. Suppression of student activism has made it stronger.