November 27, 2015: A large number of former students of Jamia University in Delhi wrote to the Vice Chancellor, asking him to withdraw the invitation to PM Narendra Modi to be the Chief Guest at the university’s annual convocation. They pointed out that Mr. Modi and his party have said that Jamia protects terrorists, and projected every student and ex-student of Jamia as a potential terrorist.
Here is the full text of the letter to the Vice Chancellor:
Professor Talat Ahmad,
Vice Chancellor,
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
(Copy to the Registrar)
Dear Sir,
We, the ex-students of Jamia Millia Islamia, are writing to you to express our deep anguish and grief on your invitation to Mr. Narendra Modi to be the chief guest at annual convocation. We are anguished and shocked because he, along with his party members, has been constantly involved in spreading rumours and hatred about Jamia Millia Islamia.
Let us share with you a video of September 2008 (it can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKrvvcr8fss) of Mr. Modi, in which he can be clearly seen misleading people during an election rally in Gujarat. We say, “rumours and hatred” because, his implied claim that, by providing legal aid to its students accused of being terrorists, Jamia is protecting terrorists, is nothing but a bunch of lies and totally based on the intention to target a particular community (do we need to name it?) and defame Jamia.
The simple fact is that, public or Jamia money, as claimed by Mr. Modi and his party members, was never used for providing legal aid to the students, who are yet to be proved guilty of anything, forget about the charge of terrorism. Jamia records will tell you that, if any money was used towards legal aid for the students, it was money from student welfare fund and amount collected by the students from the people of Jamia Nagar.
As far as the statement and stand by then VC and his act of standing by its students are concerned, we firmly believe that it was the need of hour and by doing so he only fulfilled his duty as the vice chancellor of the University. It was a very courageous and prudent step on his part. We can say so with a great degree of confidence because many of us were students or fresh graduates of Jamia at that point of time and there was a vicious campaign going on to tarnish the image of Jamia.
This led to an environment, where every student of Jamia or its ex-student was seen with suspicion of being a potential terrorist. To understand the gravity of the situation, we would request you to go through the archives of newspapers, magazines and news bulletins of that time apart from the convocation address of 2008, delivered by late U R Ananthamurthy.
Believe us, had the then vice chancellor, Professor Mushirul Hasan not taken the stand he took and to which Mr. Modi is referring in his speech, the situation would have even been worse. Moreover, despite clarifications from Jamia authorities, Mr. Modi never apologized for misleading people. Not only that, his party and its prominent members (not ‘fringe elements’) vilified Jamia and still continue doing so to further their divisive agenda. You may recall that in December 2008 Delhi assembly elections, BJP put out an advisement with the title “Jamia University funds to defend terror accused”. This, despite the fact that the then VC made it clear time and again that it is not true.
We remember that none less than the Election commission taking notice of it and stating, “The Vice Chancellor of the Jamia University has categorically stated that no fund of the institute was being used for the alleged purpose and that the students of the University were themselves raising funds,” the EC said. But even that did not put an end to the vilification campaign against Jamia. Last year, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, BJP senior leader, V K Malhotra said, “Jamia, Batla safe houses for terrorists”.
Sir, we can share with you many such statements and instances through which they have tried to defame Jamia on regular basis. We wonder what message you want to convey by inviting the person who has been part of all this. You may argue that, we have not invited him as a member of a particular party but as the Prime Minster of India. You are right, but partially. Because today none other than Mr. Modi is the face of the party and the government. I am sure, you have heard of the slogan, “Ab ki baar Modi Sarkar”.
We have a very simple request to you, withdraw the invitation because given Mr. Modi’s track record, he does not deserve to address annual convocation. Or at least ask him to render a public apology about his own malicious and incorrect statement before he attends the convocation.
Looking forward to a positive response.
Yours sincerely,
- Asad Ashraf, (B.A( H) Eco 2007-10, MA in Peace Building and Conflict Resolution 2012-14)
- Mahtab Alam, (Jamia School: 2001-2003, BA (H) Economics: 2005-08)
- Samarth Pathak (MA Human Rights and Duties: 2008-10
- Rameez Raja, B.Sc(bioscience 2006-2009), M.Sc(biochemistry 2009-2011)
- Sagnik Banerjee, M.A – Conflict analysis and peace building, 2012-2014
- SaniaQamar, B tech 2009-2013
- Shafaque Alam, MA in Media Governance, 2010-2012
- Abhishek Roy, MA Development Comm 2004, Mass Communication 2006
- Mazin Khan, SSC, HSC, Engineering, Management (1992-2002, 2007-2009)
- Salauddin, Diploma in Engg- 2014
- Nishat Khan, Jamia Middle & Sr. Sec. School: 1994-2002, B.Tech in ECE: 2002-2006, MBA :2007-2009
- M. Gauhar Iqbal, B. A. (Hons) Economics 1998-2001 and M. A. Economics 2001-2003
- MohdShahid B Tech Computer Science 2009- 2013
- SM Talha, M. A. in Public Admn.: 2005 – 07, P. G. D. in Management of NGOs: 2013 – 14
- Afroz Alam Sahil (B.A (Hons) Mass Media 2005-08, MA in Mass Communication 2008-10)
- M. Reyaz: 2005-10 (BA and MA)
- Preetika Nanda, MA Conflict Analysis and Peace Building, 2012-2014.
- Maryam Tooba Khan BSc biosciences JMI 2011-14 batch
- Syed SaiamHasan, B.A( HONS) Social Work 2006- 2009, MA in Convergent Journalism 2009-2011
- KtHafis (MA Media Governance, Centre for Culture, Media & Governance, 2011 – 2013 batch)
- Amin Khan, BBS(H) 2003-2006
- Neha Dixit, Convergent Journalism, 2007
- MohdZakirRiyaz, BA(H) Sociology 2009-12 MSW 2012-14
- MdZakaria Siddiqui, BA (H) Economics 1996-1999, MA (Economics) 1999-2001
- HAFIZ SHAKILUZZAMAN, M. A. EDUCATION (2008-2010)
- Abbas Shamael Rizvi, MA Mass Communication, 2004-2006
- Surya Ghildiyal, MA – Conflict Analysis and Peace Building, 2012-2014
- QaziZaid,M.A. Convergent Journalism [2013-2015]
- Saidali P. P, (M.A History, 2009-2011)
- NeyazFarooquee, Jamia School, BSc Bioscience, MA Convergent Journalism, 1997-2011
- Yusra Husain, Masters in Convergent Journalism: 2012-14
- SANTANU SENGUPTA, M.A. History, 2008-2010
- Yousuf Saeed, MA Mass Communication, 1990
- MuhammedRiyas M, MA Applied Psychology(2013-2015)
- MuhminaMumthazJahan. T, MA Political Science, 2012-2014
- Ali Rizvi , MA Mass Communication, 2008-10
- Ishleen Kaur Takkar, M.A. Conflict Analysis and peace building, 2012-2014
- Niyas C, B.Tech Computer Engg. 2010 – 2014
- UzairHasan Rizvi, MA Convergent Journalism, 2013-2015
- Pallavi Paul, Mass Communication 2008-2010
- AnanyaBasu, M.A. Social Work 2010-2012
- HenaAnjum, B.A (HONS) Social work 2009-2012
- MohdAdilAnsar, B.Tech. Computer Science 2014 Batch
- MdShakir Ali, B. Tech ( Comp. Engg.), 2010-2014
- Shiv Sunny, MA in Convergent Journalism, 2010-12
- LognaBezbaruah, Masters in Conflict Analysis and Peacebuilding, 2014
- Saif Sami, M.A. Media Governance (2013-2015)
- SohebNiazi, BA (Hons) Political Science 2007-2010
- Fahad Hashmi, M.A (Sociology) 2010
- FathimaNizaruddin, MA Mass Communication, 2002-04
- MdAariz Imam, BTech Electrical – 2005 -2009, MBA -2009-2011
- ShuddhabrataSengupta, M A Mass Communication, 1989-91
- SHUEB AHMAD, B.A Hons History 2008-2011
- NoorulHaque, B.A(Hons) Social Work 2008-11, MSW 2012-14
- Zoya Qureshi, M.A (2009- 2011) Conflict Analysis and Peace Building
- Faisal A. Ikram, Course: MA Mass Communication 2005-07
- RameezRaza, M.Sc. Chemistry, 2012-2014
- Sumayyah Khan, BA Sociology, 2007
- MdAmsal, Diploma in Electronics Engg (2008-11)
- Mudasser Ahmed, BA(Hons) Social Work 2004-2007, MA Mass Communication 2007-2009
- Rafi Ahmed, Dip Civil Engg. 1988
- Javed Beg, B. Tech (Mechanical), 1999
- Amir Khan, BA-Geography Hons. 2004
- Sehar Siddiqui , MA Mass Communication, 2011-2013
- Ziauddin Khan, B.Tech Electrical 2004
- PrateekSingla, B.Tech Comp. Science, 2010-2014
- Nisar Ahmad Khan, BA (H) Eco 1992-1995, MA Eco 1996-1998
- Mahtab Azad, MA Social Work, 2006
- KhadeejaArif, MA English
- Aftab Alam, Jamia senior secondary school, 1997-99 BA Hons Pol Science, 1999-2002
- Hamidur Rahman, BA (H) Pol Science, 2007-09
- NeedaArfin Borah, M.A. Applied Psychology, 2012-2014
- Kabir Arora, BA Hons. Geography 2007-10
- Saima Iqbal MCRC , PGD Journalism, 2006
- Farah Shakeel, B.A.English 2001
- Mumtaz Ahmad B.Tech 1998
- Mobin Alam, MA (History),2001 M. Ed, 2004
- MaryaNeyazi, NMCPCR, 2012-14
- SaimaAzmi, M.A. Applied Psychology, 2012-2014
- Zafar UllahLushkary BA (Hons.) History 1990
- Wamiq Zia Delhi MA Eco 2010 -2012
- ArshiJaved : 2010-12 political science
- Mohammad Aariz Imam: B Tech, 2005-2009
- Shueb Ahmed ; 2008 -2011 History
- Saiyed Danish : 2007-2010 History
- SairaMujtaba 2009-2011 Mass com
- Haseena Khatri MCRC 1997
- Shah kamal 2007 -2010 Sociology
- Adnan MahmoodSher : 2011-2013 Mass com
- Aqsa gulnaz khan 2013-2015 Conflict resolution and Peace Building
- Md. FaizAhmed.BBS (Hons) 2003-06, MBA (Full Time) 2007-09
- NaiyyarAzam, B. A. Mass Media 2004; PGD Development Communication 2005
- S. Athar H. Rizvi (MA — English) 1983-85
- Md.Waseem : BA (H) Political Science , 2008-2011
- AmanHasan, M A.Social Work (2013)
- SandipanTalukdar, MSc Bio Tech, 2008-10
- Shariq Naqvi, BA Geography and MA Convergent Journalism (2004-07, 2008-10)
- PriyankaGuha Roy (B.A. Hons. English 2004-07)
