JNUTA condemns recent attacks on academicians of Dalit, minority communities

NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) has condemned the recent attacks on intellectuals and academic scholars, especially academics from Dalit and minority communities, for criticising majoritarian positions in public.

JNUTA released a statement in the backdrop of recent attacks directed toward professors of different universities who expressed their opinions. This includes Ravi Kant of Lucknow University, Ratan Lal of Delhi University and Imtiaz Ahmed, a former JNU professor. "These intellectuals from marginalised and minority communities have been subjected to vituperative personal attacks, public threats of violence, police complaints and arrests, as well as relentless trolling on social media," the statement from JNUTA quoted.

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According to JNUTA, comments and observations made in public fora must be dealt with civic discussion and rational arguments. It condemned the use of the ‘hurt community sentiments’ discourse as a weapon for illegal intimidation by mobs and police. JNUTA said that such action will curtail intellectual freedom and public debate on important issues. The association observed this as a tactic to silence intellectuals from Dalit and minority communities.

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JNUTA demanded that there should be an end to threats, police complaints, and arrests which aims to curtail free speech. The association condemned the intimidation, violence and arrest by police that curtail debate and criticism.