The debates and discussions on peace and conflicts in the country, in the aftermath of the Pulwama attacks is happening every where but in some instances, these discussions are getting violent. In a recent incident, a law faculty at the University of Delhi was assaulted by a student after a discussion on the subject.
The lecturer, who does not wish to be named believes the issue is being blown out of proportion. However, the student and the members of the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad have started a Twitter campaign, with hashtag #RemoveTraitorsfromDu and are demanding the professor's dismissal. They are also demanding that the faculty be charged for sedition and his PhD enrollment be cancelled.
The faculty, who isn't active on any social media platform says that he isn't aware of the widespread hatred against him. "This was an issue between me and my student," he says. "The student had a disagreement with me and he had assaulted me in the pretext of having a discussion. Right now, I am taking rest as advised by my doctor."
He says that it all began on February 20, after he took a class about a court case on conversions and the student linked it to the recent happenings in Kashmir. "The student asked me if the government should be criticised for the conflict. I said that the government should have an answer to why such an incident had taken place," says the faculty. "He asked me if the army is stupid. I never said that. I told him that conflicts happen even in other parts of the country and the government should be accountable for this," he adds. He was beaten up after this. He said that he never expected the issue to escalate and that he was only having a normal discussion with his student.
The Delhi University Teachers' Association has also come in support of the faculty and is demanding that the Vice Chancellor take stock of the threatening situation and initiate prompt disciplinary action. "Teachers and students must be guaranteed the freedom to express their own views and argue their own opinions, however unpopular or contrarian, within a democratic educational institution. This freedom is integral to the survival of critical thinking," said the association in a statement.
The university's law students are also organising a protest condemning the attack in the university premises on Tuesday. "This isn't political at all. We law students are coming forward in support of our faculty. We do not want an atmosphere of fear where anyone can beat up anyone and tag them as an anti-national," says Kawalpreet Kaur, Delhi University AISA President.
