JNUSU vice president demands reconstruction of Babri Masjid

NEW DELHI: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) vice president Saket Moon has raised the demand for reconstruction of the Babri Masjid during a protest by the students’ body. However, an office-bearer of the JNUSU maintained a distance from Moon’s comments. The JNUSU had organised a harmony march on Monday night to commemorate the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the death anniversary of B R Ambedkar.

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In a purported video, Moon can be heard saying, "...Compensation has to be awarded. It has to be accepted that the demolition of Babri Masjid was wrong and it should be reconstructed." Satish Chandra Yadav, general secretary of JNUSU, said, "The JNUSU did not raise the demand. He had talked about how the court has accepted that the demolition of Babri Masjid was wrong and had said that it should be constructed again." There was no immediate reaction from the university. The JNUSU had screened ‘Ram Ke Naam' documentary on Saturday night despite the university administration’s apprehensions that "such an unauthorised activity may disturb communal harmony and peaceful environment" of the campus.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) on Saturday screened Anand Patwardhan’s documentary ‘Ram Ke Naam’ on JNU campus despite the JNU administration ’s warning to cancel the event.

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Filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, in a video message, said, “I want to tell you that you have every right to screen the film despite the administration’s warning to cancel the screening. In fact, it has received a U certificate from the CBFC. It also received a National Award for Best Investigative Documentary in 1992. After that, this film was broadcast in Doordarshan at prime time after the High Court permission. One more television (channel) had broadcast the documentary after the Allahabad High Court order.”