Jitender Yadav, president of All India Backward Students Forum (AIBSF) of Jawaharlal Nehru University who was issued a showcause notice for circulating a religiously “offensive“ poster on the university campus, is planning to slap a legal notice on the university claiming that he is innocent, even as he was given three more days to reply to the notice. Yadav said that the poster in contention did not bear his signatures and he could not be held responsible for circulating them.
The university in its showcause notice to the AIBSF president said that Yadav had been found guilty of releasing an “offensive“ poster depicting a deity “in a derogatory manner“ that led to violent incidents.
Earlier this month, the members of AIBSF and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had clashed over posters that were found “hurtful“ by a section of students. The posters were circulated by students of the AIBSF, based on an article in the Forward Press magazine about the `Dalit Viewpoint on Durga-Mahishasura'.
“I am seeking legal advice on the issue and I plan to file a case against the University, especially against the Proctor, who has issued notice to me. It was the organisation that had circulated the poster and they cannot single me out,“ Yadav said.
Yadav, who was given time till Thursday to reply to the notice, meanwhile, asked for more time from the administration, which granted it three more days.
The AIBF and United Dalit Students Forum (UDSF) condemned the showcause notice issued to Yadav and threatened to launch a protest if the University punishes him.
The groups said in a statement that the University was acting with “an intention of revenge“ against them and demanded that a fresh inquiry be conducted into the incident with representatives of all student bodies like AISA, SFI, SFR and NSUI included in the panel.
The Forward Press magazine meanwhile defended its article ‘Kiski Puja Kar Rahe Hai Bahujan?’ , that was published in its October edition, saying allegations that it has elements that show disregard to Goddess Durga were undesirable.
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