After fake video of Kanhaiya, JNU grows sceptical of scribes

In light of the JNU row, the doctotred footage released by some news channels regarding the event on February 9 where anti-national slogans were raised leading to the arrest of its student union leader Kanhaiya Kumar, the atmosphere in the varsity is predominantly disposed towards how the ‘media trial’ of Kumar has instilled doubts amongst JNU students about the integrity of journalists.

This has further escalated to such a level in the campus that the security guards manning the main entrance are not letting in mediapersons. This reporter had to wait for around 30 minutes just to gain entry. The security guard kept saying: “Media not allowed ma’am.”

Keeping a record of who is entering the varsity, the male guard asked questions like: “Whom do you have to meet?”, “Why do you want to meet?”, “Get your bag checked”, “Are you carrying a camera?”

Only after making the guard talk to a friend of mine who is also a student of the varsity could I gain entry. In the Administration block, the centre piece where students and teachers have been gathering for a week now, there are few who take rest till the clock strikes five when another group starts raising slogans to motivate the crowd.

Meanwhile, talking about Kanhaiya’s arrest, Arun, secretary, AISF unit in Delhi and also a PhD student said: “I saw a TV report on which it was said that JNU students are studying during the day  and planing anti-national strategies at night. Trust me, no PhD student has that much time. We keep running from pillar to post, attending conferences and getting our thesis finalised. Moreover, we hold regular public meetings where we discuss the burning issues in depth. This doesnt mean that if we say anything against a particular policy or government’s stand on a policy, we are anti-nationals. No one is bothered to know that policemen in plain clothes were spying on Kanhaiya three days before his arrest. It is not an arrest, it is kidnapping on Bassi’s order.”