JNU attack manifestation of growing xenophobic agenda: NSF

The Naga Students' Federation’s logo. (Photo Courtesy:  @nsf1947 /Facebook)

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 9 (MExN): The Naga Students Federation (NSF) today condemned the “attack and brutalities” unleashed upon the students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on the night of January 5 by masked miscreants. 

A press release from the NSF media cell stated that a university space should be one that encourages minds to read, write, debate, and discuss. 

“As a part of this, they should also have the freedom to question the prevailing systems of governance and that no attempt, whatsoever, should be made to mute the dissenting voices using means that are not in the right democratic and secular spirit,” it added.

The federation stated that the barbaric attack on the students and teachers of the nation's premier university is a manifestation of the “growing xenophobic agenda of a certain section of people within the country which is fueled by far right wing Hindu nationalist principles.” 

“Terror unleashed within the campus extremist mob does not augur well for the future of Indian democracy and its institutions,” it feared. 

The NSF termed it “truly unfortunate and saddening for NSF to see that students are not safe on the campus and even in the hostels.” 

The federation appealed to all concerned authorities to take up immediate and necessary measures in all educational institutions across the country in order to ensure that the unwanted precedent set at JNU is not repeated in any other parts of the country.

It meanwhile extended full solidarity to the student movement in JNU and demanded an independent and impartial probe be initiated into the incident. It also demanded that strong actions be initiated against the perpetrators and all those who abetted the heinous attack.