JNU considering centre to study ‘Islamic terrorism’, claims JNUSU

NEWDELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University is allegedly considering setting up a ‘Special Centre for National Security Studies’ where ‘Islamic Terrorism’ will be a key area of study, according to a report shared by the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU).

JNUSU in a statement on Friday alleged that during the 145th Academic Council (AC) meeting held the same day, the JNU V-C allowed the “tabling of a course on ‘Islamic Terrorism’ under the proposed National Security Studies special centre.” JNUSU president Geeta Kumari said a committee submitted a report about the proposed centre under which a “course” on ‘Islamic Terrorism’ is apparently being considered.

Kumari said that before Friday’s AC meeting where the report was discussed, JNUSU was unaware of the proposal to start the centre or that a panel had been formed for this purpose.

According to the committee’s report, shared with Hindustan Times by JNUSU joint secretary Shubhanshu Singh, the panel was formed to finalise modalities, after it was decided to establish such a centre. HT could not independently verify the report.

The report lists ‘Islamic Terrorism’ as a key area of work for the centre, rather than a course (as claimed by JNUSU), along with over 20 other areas, which include ‘Insurgency’, ‘Naxalism’, and ‘Military Modernisation of China and Pakistan’.

JNU V-C, registrar, chief proctor, rector I, rector II, and rector III, did not respond to calls or messages inquiring about the allegedly proposed centre.

Ajay Dubey, the chairperson of the committee which submitted its report on the proposed centre, did not confirm nor deny the plans for the centre, but said, “Terrorism and religion are not linked. There is no proposal for a course on Islamic terrorism.”

“Islamic terrorism is going to be just one of the focus areas for research at the centre. Whether it exists or not, only research can tell,” said Amita Singh, acting chairperson of the Centre for the Study of Law & Governance and also a member of the AC, who added the students union had created a “ruckus” at the meeting.

Ajai Sahni, the executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management, while calling such centres an “urgent necessity,” said, “First of all, there are many brands of terrorism and if there is a study centre, then there should be a broader definition... Also, when we talk of such terrorism, we usually say Islamist terrorism. Islamic refers to a religion, while Islamist refers to a political ideology. When we speak of extremism, we say Hindutva extremism, and not Hindu extremism, because otherwise we would taint an entire community. Similarly, calling it Islamic, taints the entire community.”