'Constrained' NDA ex-servicemen to return degrees over 'anti-national' activities in JNU

Constrained over the ongoing 'anti-national' activities going on in the Jawahar Lal Nehru University, ex-servicemen of June, 1978 batch of the National Defence Academy (NDA) have said that they are finding it difficult to be associated to the university and therefore they would return their degrees.

In a letter to the vice-chancellor of the university, ex-servicemen of the 54th NDA course said, "We the proud fraternity of ex-servicemen of the June 1978 Batch of National Defence Academy, who are proud recipient of the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts Degree from your esteemed University, are today constrained at the ongoing anti national activities on your university campus like celebration of Afzal Guru day, and consider it an affront to be equated with the present student fraternity of the university which is indulging in such anti national activities."

The ex-servicemen feel that the present activities in the JNU campus negate the sacrifices made by the past degree holders of the esteemed university.

"We, the proud, patriotic ex-servicemen of the 54th NDA course find it difficult to be associated to a university which has become a hub of anti national activity, and would therefore be constrained to return our prized and well earned degrees to your esteemed institution if such activities are allowed to be conducted inside the University Campus," the letter added.

Hours after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Human Resource and Development Minister Smriti Irani denounced the raising of alleged anti-India slogans in the JNU, the Delhi Police on Friday arrested the university's students' union president, Kanhaiya Kumar, on charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy.

Kumar's arrest evoked strong reactions from JNU students and teachers, past and present, and Opposition parties even as the RSS's students wing ABVP 'thanked' police for arresting the "anti-nationals". The arrest of Kumar, a member of the CPI's students wing AISF, was made a day after BJP MP from East Delhi, Maheish Girri, registered a complaint.

The alleged anti-India slogans were reportedly raised during a protest march on the campus on Tuesday against Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's hanging.

The protest was staged even though the JNU administration had revoked permission following a complaint from the ABVP.