Wednesday, October 1, 2008

SO WE PAY TO GET KILLED

By announcing that it would provide legal aid to its students who have been arrested on terror charges, Jamia Millia Islamia has affronted the nation and the taxpayer.

Mohammad Shakeel, a second-year MA student, and Zia-Ur-Rehman (third year BA) were arrested by Delhi Police for their alleged involvement in serial blasts in the national capital. Jamia’s media coordinator Rakhshanda Jalil said, “The university has now decided to provide legal help to the two students caught on Sunday.” He argued that since the two are students of Jamia, “the university feels it is a responsibility to safeguard them until they are proven guilty.” This is the most brazen support to jehad.

Since when did the varsities begin fighting the cases for their students? It is not the first time that the students of an Indian university have been arrested, but there is no precedent of the academic dons providing legal aid to criminals. So, why do the Jamia bosses feel that it is their “responsibility to safeguard them until they are proven guilty” is open to interpretation. Unfortunately, it is not just the Jamia authorities which are sympathetic to Shakeel and Zia. “Jamia does not have a students’ body that can fight for the students’ rights,” an agitated professor said. “After Friday’s encounter, no one can now speak openly about the students.” Hence Jamia’s intervention.

A large section of Muslims seem determined to believe that Atif, Shakeel, Zia and their comrades in arms were innocent students who have been unreasonably killed and arrested or are being hounded by the security agencies. Earlier, it was said that the shootout was a cock-and-bull story created by the police. But the death of Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma practically buried the charge—at least for some time—for the charges of ‘fake encounter’ are still being made by many Muslims.

The actions of Jamia dons will bestow some authenticity to the wild rumours doing the rounds in the community. And, pray, what are the moderate Muslims doing? Jamia Vice-Chancellor Mushirul Hasan said that he would take steps to look into the “well being” of his students. This is the reaction of a most suave Muslim scholar, who waxes eloquent about the country’s ‘composite culture’ and the Sufi tradition and quotes Mahatma Gandhi. And what does he do? He makes the public exchequer pay for the sins of the alumni of his varsity. In fact, it is double whammy for the taxpayer: he pays for the running of Jamia and other Muslim institutes; and when they breed fundamentalism, he is also made to pay for the jehadis’ lawyers. The war on terror has become a cruel joke.

4 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

i agree what jamia is doing is wrong.but they are doing it with their own funds.the tax payers should not be upset with this.we should be angry at the politicians and their secretaries go abroad on our expenses.they go for workshops and meetings and most of the points are not implemented.

October 1, 2008 at 8:43 PM  
Blogger vaneet kundra said...

Dear Bulbul,

Thanks for your comments. Atlast you made it. i am really happy. Jamia University is fully financied by HRD MInistry. They dont have their own funds. The students fees is subsidised. This is the appeasement policy of our govt. They have full right to defend their students but not at the cost of University funds, which means govt. funds and thereby utimately means taxpayers funds. They should pay from their own pocket to hire lawyers. So we pay, to get killed.

October 1, 2008 at 11:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

so you are finally developing the "killer"touch that you always craved in your writing...this piece certainly hit the nail hard!

October 2, 2008 at 12:42 AM  
Blogger vaneet kundra said...

Dear Ms Walia,

Thanks again for your valued comments. I dont think, i have developed that " killer " touch, which i have always craved. I have got to learn a lot. I shall only feel that " killer " touch, when people for whom i am writing ( eminent citizens ) start responding to my call. That killer touch, i have found in your words, and your articles. Make me your student and keep guiding me. There are miles to go, before i sleep.

October 2, 2008 at 8:24 AM  

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