Delhi Minorities Commission issues notice to JNU registrar

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Minorities Commission on Tuesday issued a notice to the registrar of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) seeking to know the reason behind a varsity proposal to start a course on "Islamic terrorism". Taking suo motu cognisance of reports about the proposed course, the Commission has asked the registrar to explain on what basis the course on "Islamic terror" is being started by the university, said Zafarul Islam Khan, the Commission's chairman.

The JNU Academic Council 'passed' a proposal to set up a Centre for National Security Studies under which there would be a course on "Islamic terrorism", said a professor who attended the meeting said last week. The Commission has asked the JNU administration to reply whether there is any concept paper or proposal to include a course on "Islamic Terror" in the proposed "Centre for National Security Studies", and demanded a copy of it. "Has the current administration of the JNU considered the implications of introducing this subject in the campus on its students and on the broader society outside?," the Commission has questioned.

It has also sought details of the proposed course and areas covered by it, methodology, reference books and works to be followed, experts who will teach and undertake research on the subject. The Commission has also asked the JNU to provide minutes of the Academic Council meeting and the list of members who attended it. The JNU administration has been asked to file its reply to these questions by June 5, Khan said.

The proposed course has been opposed by sections of teachers and students at the JNU. "In a deeply problematic and shocking move, the JNU V-C also allowed the tabling of a course/topic on 'Islamic terrorism' under the Centre for National Security Studies," JNU Students Union president Geeta Kumari had said.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind General Secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani has also written a letter to JNU vice-chancellor, strongly condemning the decision to introduce "Islamic Terrorism" as a subject under the newly-approved 'Centre for National Security Studies' in the varsity.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of HRD, seeking his intervention in the matter. Maulana Mahmood Madani in his letter said that this ill-conceived decision would hurt the feelings and sentiments of not only the Muslims but all those people who believe in respecting all the religions as the true mark of a civilized society.