Kashmir, Palestine freedom posters surface in JNU, removed

NEW DELHI: The JNU administration ordered removal of a “controversial” poster which sprang up on its campus demanding “freedom for Kashmir and Palestine”.

The poster with “Freedom for Kashmir! Free Palestine! Right to Self Determination Long Live! DSU” written on it was pasted on the wall by the Left-leaning Democratic Students Union (DSU).

DSU’s former members Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and others had organized the controversial event last year against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru at the JNU during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

Khalid, Bhattacharya and former student union president Kanhaiya Kumar are out on bail in a sedition case over the event.

Some students noticed the poster on the wall of the new block of the School of Social Sciences (SSS) and informed the administration.

The JNU authorities asked the university security to remove the poster in the evening.

“The university has already lost precious time and energy in such unnecessary controversies. Unfortunately a small group of people are still trying to create another ruckus and vitiate the academic environment.

“We don’t know who put up the poster as this has been the pattern in JNU. However, the administration has asked the staff to bring it down,” a senior university official said.

The administration was unable to function for over 17 days due to the blockade of the administrative building by students in protest against changes in the admission policy and it was only early this week that the staff got access to the building and resumed work.