Neha
JAMMU, Mar 12: At a time when almost all the Kashmiri leaders, both separatist and so-called mainstream, including Omar Abdullah, are batting for the suspended 66-odd Kashmiri students, who allegedly cheered the victory of Pakistan over India in the Asia Cup Cricket match and raised pro-Pakistan slogans, and accusing the Meerut-based Swami Vivekananda Subharti University (SVSU) authorities of being harsh on the Kashmiri students, noted Hindi film lyricist Javed Akhtar has demanded stringent action against the erring students. He has said that the Kashmiri students who were suspended on March 3 by their University in Uttar Pradesh for cheering for Pakistan during a cricket match should be rusticated and sent back to their state. Actually, he tweeted to this effect the other day and his tweet read like this: "Why the suspension of those 67 Kashmiri students who cheered Pakistan is revoked. They should be rusticated and sent back to Kashmir". This tweet could rattle the Kashmiri leadership as well as the suspended Kashmiri students.
It bears recalling that the Swami Vivekananda Subharti University authorities had expelled 67 Kashmiri students from the Madan Dinghra Hostel after they had allegedly cheered Pakistan cricket team after their victory over India in the Asia Cup match on March 2. The suspension which was indefinite and till further orders by the university is still in place. The match, which was a thriller, was won by Pakistan by one wicket. Pakistani batsman Shahid Afridi had hit two back-to-back sixes in the last over, which helped Pakistan win the crucial match.
If Javed Akhtar took the line different from that of the Kashmiri leadership of all variety, the University the same day said that the Kashmiri students who were expelled from their university for allegedly cheering the Pakistan cricket team can only get readmission after they are cleared of the charges in the probe. "Even if, students get declared innocent by the probe committee, they, along with their guardians will have to produce an affidavit mentioning they will not indulge in any such act in future," the University authorities said. So much so, the University authorities said that they will not go to Kashmir to record the statements of the suspended Kashmiri students. Javed Akhtar and the University authorities needed to be appreciated for the stand that they have taken on the issue. Those who outrage the Indian sensitivities to pander to Pakistan do deserve an action that has the potential of producing a moral effect. |
