Jawaharlal Nehru University finds itself in the crosshairs once more, this time courtesy of Haji Arafat Sheikh’s blistering critique. The vocal leader didn’t mince words: ‘Do JNU students come to learn or propagate terror?’ His question, posed at a packed rally, has polarized opinions and reignited old wounds.
Delving into history, Sheikh highlighted a pattern of unrest—from fee hike agitations to controversial seminars—that he claims veer into sedition. ‘Instead of academic excellence, JNU delivers propaganda,’ he charged, urging the Modi government to audit the campus and expel radical influencers.
The statement resonates with many who view JNU as a hotbed of tukde-tukde rhetoric and Kashmiri separatism sympathies. BJP affiliates amplified his voice online, garnering thousands of shares. ‘Patriots are tired of subsidizing anarchy,’ read one viral post.
On the flip side, JNU’s vocal student body fired back, labeling Sheikh’s comments Islamophobic and anti-education. ‘This is a ploy to silence dissent,’ argued a faculty member in a statement. Opposition parties like Congress and AAP echoed the sentiment, calling it hate speech.
With videos of Sheikh’s speech going viral, the controversy underscores deepening divides in India’s education landscape. As petitions circulate for probes into JNU’s funding, the university braces for scrutiny. Sheikh’s bold intervention might just force long-overdue reforms—or deepen the chasm.