JNU row: Administration cancels venue for Umar Khalid book event after ABVP protests

A planned discussion on jailed activist Umar Khalid's book, 'Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power,' at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has sparked a dispute between the university's Left-led student union and the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

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You can cage the singer but not the song.

The university administration withdrew permission for the event's venue, citing "non-disclosure of the full facts about the program." The discussion, organized by the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) to mark Vishva Adivasi Diwas, was initially scheduled for the School of Social Sciences-I auditorium. The book is Khalid's PhD thesis from JNU.

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non-disclosure of the full facts about the program

The ABVP claimed responsibility for the cancellation, stating its campaign against the event led to the administration's decision. The ABVP referred to Khalid, who is awaiting trial for alleged involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots, as "deshdrohi" (anti-national). ABVP JNU president Mayank Panchal called the cancellation a "victory," asserting that the university's grounds should not host individuals accused of anti-national activities.

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After ABVP JNU's continuous protest and efforts, the programme has been cancelled.

JNUSU president Aditi Mishra rejected the administration's explanation, calling it a "manufactured pretext for censorship." She argued that the booking form was completed correctly and questioned why permission was granted initially if disclosures were incomplete. The union also accused the administration of double standards, pointing to its cooperation with events organized by ISKCON. Despite the venue cancellation, JNUSU announced the discussion would proceed in an open area near the SSS-II building.

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university's land cannot become a platform for glorifying a person accused in cases linked to serious anti-national activities and violence