Probe ordered into ‘derogatory’ remarks against Hindus by CUJ professor

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 1

Amid nationwide raging debate over freedom of expression, a professor of the Central University of Jammu (CJU) has triggered a controversy after her alleged derogatory remarks against Hindus.

Enraged over alleged defamatory remarks of the professor, students of Jammu University (JU) brought the matter to the knowledge of the higher-ups and an inquiry against the professor has been initiated by the CUJ.

Highly placed sources said a written complaint in this regard had been lodged with the higher-ups to take appropriate action against the professor for allegedly hurting sentiments of a particular religion. “A copy of the complaint has already been forwarded to the Vice Chancellor (VC) of CUJ, Prof Ashok Aima, to investigate the matter,” a source said, adding that the Vice Chancellor of CUJ had been asked to complete the investigation in a fixed time.

According to the written complaint, a seminar was organised by an NGO on “Pluralism in J&K: Crisis and the way forward” on February 18 in the seminar hall of Business School of Jammu University. “During the seminar, Prof Nandani Bhattacharya, Head, Department of English, CUJ, had made extremely derogatory remarks against Hindu religion,” the complaint alleged and pointed out that “the statement made by Prof Bhattacharya was highly derogatory and made consciously to divide the students of Jammu University following Hindu religion and to develop hatred, enmity and disaffection against each other.”

“The statement has been made intentionally to hurt religious sentiments of the followers of Hindu religion. It was against a particular section and was made deliberately to create a divide among students,” the complaint read, adding that “appropriate action against the professor should be taken for trying to generate hatred and enmity among students of Jammu University”.

Manmohan Kumar, a student of Jammu University, who has written the letter, said the complaint had been lodged before the Chancellor of Jammu University and HRD Minister so as to keep a check on the activities of such elements hell bent upon creating a divide among students for their vested interests.