Cancel ‘unauthorised’ screening of ‘Ram Ke Naam’, JNU students’ union told

New Delhi, Dec. 4: The Jawaharlal Nehru University administration on Saturday “firmly” advised the students’ union to cancel the screening of ‘Ram Ke Naam’ documentary, saying “such an unauthorised activity may disturb communal harmony and peaceful environment” of the campus. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), however, said that it will go ahead with the screening at 9 pm on Saturday.

The maker of the documentary film, Anand Patwardhan, also sent a solidarity message to the students and said they have full right to show the film since it has ‘U’ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

In a circular, the JNU registrar said, “It has come to the notice of the undersigned that a group of students have in the name of JNUSU released a pamphlet for screening a documentary/movie ‘Ram Ke Naam’ scheduled for tonight at 9:30 pm in Teflas (student union hall).”

The university administration said no prior permission for the event was taken from it. “This is to emphasise that such an unauthorised activity may disturb communal harmony and peaceful environment of the university campus.

The concerned students/individuals are firmly advised to cancel the proposed programme immediately failing which a strict disciplinary action as per the university rules may be initiated against those responsible for this event. The students are also instructed not to get provoked by this pamphlet, which is unauthorised and unwarranted,” the circular read.

‘Ram ke Naam’, a 1992 documentary by Patwardhan, explores the campaign to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, in a Facebook post, said they have scheduled a screening of ‘Ram Ke Naam’ at the union hall.