Don’t involve us in vote fight, JU tells PM Jadavpur University (JU) students, faculty, and alumni have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to refrain from involving the institution in electoral politics, following his recent remarks linking the university to "anarchy" and anti-national activities. Modi’s comments, made during an election rally in Kolkata, sparked widespread backlash from the university community, who emphasized the institution’s historical role as a bastion of academic freedom and dissent. Modi’s speech at the rally accused JU of fostering an environment of "anarchy" on campus, citing threats, anti-national slogans, and student protests as evidence. He called for an academic environment free from such disruptions, emphasizing the need for "dialogue, not threats." However, university stakeholders rejected the characterization, arguing that the institution’s reputation for intellectual rigor and nationalistic principles should not be politicized. Comparative literature professor Sujit Kumar Mandal criticized the attempt to link JU to electoral politics, stating, "It is better not to mix an institution with electoral politics. Especially one that is reputed to be one of the best in the country." Mandal highlighted the university’s legacy of nationalistic values and its role as a hub for critical discourse, which he argued should remain untouched by political agendas. Research scholar Fazle Wakil condemned the targeting of JU, calling it "unfortunate and disappointing." He argued that the university’s foundation on national movements inherently allows for dissent and protest against authority, which he framed as a democratic necessity rather than a sign of "dictatorial" intent.#prime_minister_narendra_modhi #jadavpur_university #sujit_kumar_mandal #fazle_wakil #puratani
