[Reader-list] Jamia VC's address to students

[Saumya Siddhartha]

Dear list
This is a brief summary of Mushirul Hasan (Vice Chancellor of Jamia) said in
his address to the student body.
Sincerely
Ss


Date: 24th September 2008
Venue: Ansari Auditorium, JMI


=> The VC began the address to the student body of JMI by stressing the fact
that the University and its students, staff, faculty do not have to prove
their patriotism to anyone, to loud applause in a packed auditorium and
amphitheater. The Vice Chancellor said that love for  'ahle watan' needs no
credentials and that as a responsible citizen of the country, like others,
he is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of events.

=> Referring to the various conspiracy theories that have been floating in
the media about Jamia, he said that Jamia was indeed involved in a
'conspiracy' of sorts in the 1920s against the British and in the 1940s when
it en-mass stood against the idea of Pakistan. He reminded the students that
the University had 'conspirators' like Maulana Mohammad Ali, Dr Mukhtar
Ahmad Ansari, and Dr Zakir Hussain, who founded the esteemed institution
under the patronage of Mahatma Gandhi.

=> He said that neither he nor the University support terrorism in any form
and he believes that stern action should be taken against the perpetrators.

=> The Vice Chancellor said that all coorperation with the establishment
will be ensured in order to help solve the case/s.

=> He severely reprimanded the media for behaving irresponsibly and passing
hasty judgments.

=> The VC has said that the University would provide legal aid to the
arrested students, on the grounds that they are 'innocent until proven
guilty' and that the Constitution grants every citizen the right to defense.
The funds will be sourced from the Students Welfare Fund of JMI.

The address helped to calm and boost the morale of the students.
He requested all the students not to play into the hands of various
political factions but to concentrate on studies and university activities.

The address was not open to media but was broadcast on Radio Jamia.

There have been reports on campus that many Jamia students are being asked
to vacate private hostels and rented accommodations by landlords. Many have
been picked up randomly by the police. A lot of day scholars who travel from
areas like Patel Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Mayur Vihar etc are finding it
difficult to convince autowalas to take them to Jamia.