Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 10: The statement of Vice Chancellor University of Jammu, Prof R D Sharma who yesterday has said that terrorist Burhan Wani should have been captured alive to avoid unrest in Valley has generated a lot of resentment with leaders of various political and social organisations , trade and student bodies openly rejected the same and demanded action against the VC.
In a communication addressed to Governor of the State, N N Vohra and copy to Prime Minister’s Office, Rakesh Gupta, president Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CII) Jammu has expressed serious concern on the press conference by Prof. R.D.Sharma. The communication sent to the Governor reads as under:
“It is a matter of highest concern for the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jammu that Prof. R.D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor Jammu University has addressed a Press Conference on November 9,2016 as reported by media wherein he has said that the Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani should have been captured alive to avoid unrest in Kashmir valley. He also went to the extent of advising the Government to resolve the “Kashmir problem”. We feel by using the words “Kashmir Problem” he has divided the State of J&K.
“We at Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jammu lodge our strongest protest against such statement by a public servant who should limit his action towards overall improvement of academics rather than deliberating upon what he termed as ” Kashmir Problem”. We feel that the repetition of past incidents provoke and incite feelings of a common man based on many factors which is not in the overall interest of our State. His statement not only has done a lot to inflame settled feelings but also has shown utter disrespect to thousands of martyrs from different wings of our security forces.
“We at Chamber always have risen to each and every occasion to bridge the gaps between three regions in the State and feel excruciatingly agonized and saddened by this action of his and demand highest action against him permissible under law and as deemed fit by you”.
VHP State president, Leela Karan Sharma has also strongly condemned the statement of Vice Chancellor and demanded action against him.
At a press conference here today the VHP State president made an appeal to Chancellor of the University, Governor N N Vohra Sharma demanded that the VC be sacked for his utterances as it does not behold good for a man like who heads one of the prestigious universities of country to make such a statement.
The VHP State chief said being an academician the VC should have confined his statements concerning to academics only instead of creating a controversy over the dread terrorist Burhan Wani who was a traitor and involved in waging a war against the nation.
Sharma said the traitors deserve the same punishment as was given to Burhan Wani. He also said that no body should make any statement which is demoralising the armed and security forces as they are doing a commendable job in fighting cross border terrorism.
VHP senior vice president, Prabhu Dayal Gupta, Suresh Chander, Naveen Sudhan Bajrang Dal, State convener and Abhishekh Gupta were present in the press conference.
Reacting to the statement of Jammu University (JU) Vice Chancellor Dr. Vikas Sharma president National Secular Forum (NSF) called the same as highly objectionable and against the popular nationalist sentiment of the countrymen.
Dr. Vikas Sharma in a statement issued said that the comment by VC, JU is politically motivated and has vested interests in making it as he asserted that the position to which Prof. Ram Ji Dass Sharma holds the charge does not allows him to make such irresponsible comment.
Meanwhile the students of JU owing allegiance to NSF protested and boycotted their classes today against the statement of VC.
The boycott of classes by the students and scholars in Jammu University under the banner of National Secular Forum (NSF) against Vice Chancellor supported the sentiment of separatist forces and opposed the action of security forces. A complete shutdown was observed in the entire campus. The activists of NSF went across the different teaching departments and asked the students to voluntarily boycott the classes. Thereafter they took out a rally in the campus shouting slogan against the University administration and Vice Chancellor.
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) held a strong protest demonstration at Kachi Chawni here today against the statement of Prof R D Sharma and torched his effigy.
The protest was held on the directives of BJYM State president Dr Suresh Ajay Mangotra and it was led by Vikas Choudhary, senior activist of the organisation.
The protesters shouting slogans against the VC and termed his statement highly motivated as well as unfortunate. They said the VC’s statement has brought a bad name to the academic institute like JU which has always been on forefront in leading the nationalist movement in the State.
The protesters while, strongly condemning the statement demanded action against VC.
Strongly condemning the recent utterance made by Prof. R.D. Sharma on the killing of dreaded terrorist Burhan Wani, the State BJP has said that by saying so Sharma has brought disrepute to his profession and the position that he is holding.
BJP State Spokesperson, Balbir Ram Rattan, while expressing anguish and shock over such an irresponsible outburst, said that the Vice-Chancellor has created doubts about his credentials as such a statement was not expected from an academician of his stature and it looks that he is playing in the hands of separatists and anti national forces. Such a statement has also disrespected the martyrs, who have been sacrificing their lives in counter insurgency operations in the Valley and other parts of this border state, he added.
He expressed apprehensions that the statement may disturb the peace of Jammu region and cause untoward happenings and demanded action against him.
The State unit of ABVP today reacted sharply to the press conference of the Jammu University Vice-Chancellor and demanded action against him.
Expressing shock and anguish over the statement of the Vice Chancellor, ABVP State secretary Varsha Jandial said that this type of statements demoralize the spirit of the security forces. He should not ignore the fact that Burhan’s fight against the State had motivated large numbers of youths, including many teenagers, to take up arms. He (VC) should not forget, in a video that had gone viral exactly a month before he was killed, he had threatened policemen, media-persons and other sections of society who did not overtly support militancy.
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