JU Prof refers to Bhagat Singh as terrorist, inquiry ordered

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 29

Following a controversy over the reference of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh as a terrorist by a senior Professor, the University of Jammu on Thursday ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

Vinay Thusoo, official spokesperson of the university, said Prof Manoj K Dhar, Vice Chancellor, had constituted a high-level committee headed by the senior-most professor of the university, to look into the complaint of students that M Taj-ud-din, senior professor and the head of the political science department, called freedom fighter Bhagat Singh a “terrorist” while teaching students.

The incident came to light after a video clip of the episode recorded by a student went viral on the social media on Thursday.

In their complaint to the Vice Chancellor, students alleged that the professor had hurt their feelings by describing Shaheed Bhagat Singh as a “terrorist” and demanded a strict action against him.

Prof M Taj-ud-din said he had to intention to hurt anyone’s feelings and apologised.

“Today, I was teaching the biography of Vladimir Lenin in the classroom and was explaining to students how he was referred to as a terrorist by the czars. Then I explained how the state had referred to Bhagat Singh as a terrorist. I had no intention to demean the personality of Bhagat Singh or for that matter hurt anyone’s feelings. If it has happened, I am sorry,” the professor told The Tribune.