Last Update: January 24, 2023, 07:53 IST
Students of Central University of Hyderabad watching the screening of Modi documentary.
The JNU administration has also warned of “stern disciplinary action” if the program is not cancelled.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has asked its student union to cancel the screening of a BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The administration’s decision comes after the students’ union of the university released a poster announcing the screening of the controversial documentary at its office on Tuesday. On the other hand, a group of Hyderabad Central University students organized a screening of the BBC documentary inside the university on 21 January.
The JNU administration has also warned of “stern disciplinary action” if the program is not cancelled.
However, sources in the Jawaharlal Nehru Students’ Union (JNUSU) said that since the documentary has not been legally banned, they would go ahead with the screening.
The screening in Hyderabad was organized by the Student Islamic Organization (SIO) and the Muslim Student Federation, popularly known as the Fraternity Group. More than 50 students of the group attended the screening.
The government on Friday directed social media platforms Twitter and YouTube to block links to the documentary titled “India: The Modi Question”. ,
However, opposition parties have criticized the government’s move to block access to the documentary.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration said in an advisory on Monday that the Sangh had not taken its permission for the event and it should be canceled as it could lead to “disturbance of peace and harmony”.
Calls and messages to JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh went unanswered, PTI reported.
The poster purportedly released by the union said that the documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ would be screened at 9 pm at the students’ union office.
In its advisory, the university said, “It has come to the notice of the administration that a group of students has issued a pamphlet in the name of JNUSU for the screening of a documentary or film (titled) “India: The Modi Question”.24 January, 2023 at 9 pm on Teflas.” No prior permission has been taken from the JNU administration for this programme.
“This is to emphasize that such unauthorized activity may disturb the peace and harmony of the university campus. The students or persons concerned are strongly advised to cancel the proposed program immediately, failing which strict disciplinary action may be initiated as per University rules.
The two-part BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” claims that it examined some aspects related to the 2002 Gujarat riots, when Modi was the state’s chief minister. The documentary has not been screened in India.
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