LEFTISTS OR ANTI-NATIONALISTS? #JNUPROTESTS

Written by Ritika Sarraf

Freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of speech are some of the rights that the Constitution of India guarantees us. Every constituent of our 1.2 billion population is well versed with their fundamental rights but how many know about fundamental duties, let alone disposing them? Shouldn’t our freedom be limited by our duties? Can we, in the name of freedom of expression, malign the very soil which has nurtured us? 

Stretching the limits of their freedom indefinitely, some JNUites raised slogans like – “Bharat teri barbadi tak jang rahegi, jang rahegi”, which effectively translates to- “We will fight till India is destroyed”. Studying in one of the prestigious educational institutes of the country, centrally funded through the Indian taxpayers' money, these students who the nation sees as its future torchbearers are sloganeering against the very spirit of this idea called India. The same country which has given them all the opportunities, these students call it bad and unjust. Hailing Afzal Guru, the parliament attack convict, as hero who killed their own countrymen, they call it Free Speech. Where was there Free Speech when scores of Kasmiri Pandits were driven out of their hometown? Where was their free speech when our soldiers were dying in Siachen protecting them? 

Going by the facts, the permission for the protests was disguised in the name of cultural events. Since then the nation has been pondering over what is cultural about this entire event. Or maybe the destruction of India is music to the JNU students union. They have sought to change the very definition of ‘cultural events’. If these students are so concerned about Free Speech, why did they have to disguise the protests as a cultural programme? The very nature of the permission is the testimony of the fact that the JNUSU itself knows that their actions are unjust and questionable.

JNU is known to have a leftist political ideology and these protesters too call themselves as leftists. Wikipedia defines Left Wing Politics as political positions or activities that accept or support social equality, often in opposition to social hierarchy and social inequality. Clearly, there was no social agenda in the protests organised on JNU campus. These students calling themselves as ‘leftists’ first need to understand the leftist ideology. Leftists are the ones who fight for more subsidies, better education, more facilities and social justice for the underprivileged. They are the ones who question government policies which has been ineffective in arresting the rising cases of farmers suicide in the country. They ask for more educational institutions, hostel facilities and student concessions to make education a more affordable affair for everyone. Leftists aim at making India a better place to live in with equal opportunities for all and not intend to destroy India. These JNUites are Anti- Nationals, not leftists and tagging them as leftists maligns the entire left political ideology.

The rationale behind the protests which is being given by protestors is that they are against capital punishment and Afzal Guru was not given a fair trial, there were still options left for him before the judgement of hanging him could have been given. Since when did protests against capital punishment translate into India’s destruction? Also, as far as Indian judicial system is considered, Afzal Guru had gone through an exhaustive judicial process before the verdict was given. Hence there is still a pinch of doubt about the actual agenda of the protests giving some credibility to Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s allegation that the activity was funded by a terror outfit. Maybe there is more to this than just a group of rogue students raising anti-national slogans. 

With great power, comes great responsibility. Fundamental rights entail certain fundamental duties and it is high time that we take those duties a little more seriously. India might not be a very convenient place to live in with a slow executive, legislature and judiciary. We might have to face inconveniences at many instances. But this is the nation which has made us educated, well nourished individuals having a good intellectual capacity and a rational mind. India lets us live a life of our choice. And we have no right to conspire for the destruction of the very nation which nurtured us. If there is something wrong with the country, we are equally at fault and we should strive towards making that change we want to see in our country. After all that the country has done for us, it is time we reciprocate the same instead of maligning it. The youth is the future and we want a bright future for India.