The Jawaharlal Nehru University students have rejected the verdict of the committee set up to investigate the incidents that followed a February 9 event on campus against Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's hanging, reported The Indian Express. The students, along with members of the faculty, burnt the panel report that stated the quantum of punishment, and also announced an indefinite hunger strike from Wednesday to protest against the committee and its findings.
JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar said, "We have rejected the so called high-level enquiry committee right from the day it was set up as an undemocratic and biased one so there is no point accepting the punishment meted out to us on basis of its findings.” Kumar has been asked to pay a fine of Rs 10,000. The students called the committee casteist and anti-reservation.
The report has suggested rustication of the event organisers, including Umar Khalid for one semester, Kashmiri student Mujeeb Gattoo for two semesters and Anirban Bhattacharya till July 15. Bhattacharya has also been barred from the university for five years. Former students – Bonojyotsna Lahiri and Draupadi – have been asked not to enter the campus.
JNUSU Vice President Shehla Rashid Shora said, “We have decided that none of the students will pay the fine or vacate their hostels. We demand that the university administration withdraw these orders as we have maintained right from the beginning that we do not have faith in this inquiry panel and it should be reconstituted.”
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