‘Students Joint Forum’ formed to invite Kanhaiya Kumar in Pune
Pune, Mar 27 : Days after allegedly receiving a threat from a BJP youth wing leader against inviting Kanhaiya Kumar, the students of three institutes in Pune have come together to form a ‘Students Joint Forum‘ to spearhead further campaigns.
The students are from Fergusson College, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) department of journalism and mass communication (commonly known as Ranade Institute on FC Road).
While FTII was roiled by students’ strike last year to protest appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as its chairman, Fergusson College was in the news when its principal wrote to police seeking investigation into alleged ‘anti-national’ slogans being raised during an ABVP-organised discussion ‘Truth of JNU‘ which led to a ruckus at the campus last week. The discussion was held even though college authorities had denied permission for it.
The forum students said, “We have sent invitation to All India Students Federation to invite Kumar to have a dialogue with him and to understand his side of ‘Truth of JNU‘.”
The Forum members on Monday will meet the Vice Chancellor of SPPU and seek “democratic atmosphere” on the campuses which would allow the students to express their viewpoints and dissent.
A few days ago, BJP Yuva Morcha leader Omkar Kadam had allegedly threatened the Ranade Institute students of dire consequences if they invited Kanhaiya Kumar, who is facing a sedition case. A police complaint was filed in this regard.
