JNU Advisory Over AISF Screening of BBC Documentary Sparks Controversy
The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration has asked students not to screen the banned BBC documentary India: The Modi Question. However, the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) has decided to go ahead with the screening on Tuesday night reported by The Indian Express.
AISF Ganga Dhaba controversy
On Monday, JNU issued a notice calling the 9 pm screening at Ganga Dhaba “unauthorized and unwarranted.” The administration expressed concerns that such events could disrupt campus peace and communal harmony.
JNU BBC Documentary Screening
The notice stated, “The administration has learned about a student group planning to screen a banned documentary tomorrow at 9 pm at Ganga Dhaba without approval. Such activities can harm the campus environment and community harmony.” It also warned of strict disciplinary action against those involved and urged students to ignore the call for the event.
Apart from this, the AISF vice-president Santosh Kumar dismissed the warning as vague and lacking specifics.“The advisory doesn’t even name the documentary or the group involved,” Kumar told The Indian Express. “People across the country have already seen this documentary. There’s no harm in screening it. We’ll stick to our plan.”
JNU Campus Protests
The BBC documentary has sparked controversy for its critical take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, especially during his time as Gujarat’s Chief Minister in 2002. The Indian government has blocked its full release, citing concerns over its content.
Freedom Of Expression At JNU.
AISF’s decision to proceed with the screening aligns with their efforts to mark the anniversary of alleged police action against students at Jamia Millia Islamia during the 2019 Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests. Similar attempts to screen the documentary at JNU and Delhi University earlier in January 2023 had also triggered widespread protests.
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