Jadavpur University will not file FIR against any student: Vice Chancellor

Kolkata: Protests and sloganeering by Jadavpur University students notwithstanding, its Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das on Friday said the varsity would not file FIR against any student as it has always stood for freedom of expression, freedom of speech and autonomy.

"JU has always stood for freedom of expression, freedom of speech as well as for autonomy and we will solve the problem through discussion... That has been JU's tradition... There is no tradition in JU to file FIRs against students and we maintain it," he said after a meeting with West Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.

"JU has a particular tradition... To ensure that the university remains a place for debate, a place for discussion and a place for deliberation and we will maintain that tradition. Whatever steps we need to take to address the issues we will take them in accordance to the university rules and regulations and conventions," Das said.

Tripathi had sought a report on the anti-India sloganeering inside JU campus.

Slogans in favour of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru were raised on Wednesday at a rally brought out by JU students to express solidarity with their JNU counterparts agitating against the arrest of their leader Kanhaiya Kumar for alleged sedition.

Slogans like "Afzal bole azadi, Geelani bole azadi" and "Cheenke ke lenge azadi" were raised. Other slogans like "Freedom from RSS, freedom from Modi government", "Jab Kashmir ne maangi azadi, Manipur bhi boli azadi" were also raised.

On the meeting with the governor, who is also the university chancellor, Das said Tripathi has asked for a report and the University administration would have an executive council meeting on Monday.

"The Chancellor has asked me to send a report on the points he has mentioned. On Monday we will have an executive council meeting where we will discuss those matters," he said.

Das said the anti-India sloganeering in JU campus was the work of "fringe elements".

"Just because a group of fringe elements gave some unfortunate slogans, it should not be used to put a blame on the entire JU community.”

"In a democracy there could be fringe elements and if these elements raise unfortunate issues they have to be brought to the discussion table and for negotiation. It does not mean that just because some fringe elements have raised certain issues the entire democratic set up, tradition is to be blamed," he said.

On his meeting with the governor, Das said, "I have discussed about holding a convention where we will invite representatives of all teachers, students and other stakeholders within the university to discuss how the democratic tradition of JU can be maintained and sustained.

And I am quite confident that we will be able to do it. "I emphasise that we will maintain our tradition and I am sure we will be to meet the situation and in accordance to JU rules," he added.