Ram Ke Naam, JNUSU says, will not back down at any cost

NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration on Saturday advised the students' union to cancel the screening of the documentary 'Ram Ke Naam'. It said "such unauthorized activity can disturb communal harmony and peaceful atmosphere" on the campus. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU), however, said it would go ahead with the documentary screening program at 9 pm on Saturday.

In a circular, JNU Registrar said, "It has come to the notice of the undersigned that a group of students in the name of JNUSU held a screening of a documentary/film 'Ram Ke Naam' at Teflas (Student Union Hall) at 9:30 pm tonight. A form has been issued for
the university administration said that no prior permission has been taken from it for this event.

The circular said, "Such unauthorized activity may disturb the communal harmony and peaceful atmosphere of the university campus. The students/individuals concerned are advised to immediately cancel the proposed program, failing which the incident may take place." Strict disciplinary action may be initiated as per the rules of the University against those responsible for the same. The students are also directed not to get influenced by this pamphlet, which is unauthorized and unfair."
Asihe Ghosh said they will go ahead with the screening.

This 1992 documentary by filmmaker Anand Patwardhan deals with the campaign to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh said in a Facebook post that she has scheduled a screening of 'Ram Ke Naam' at the Union Hall.

"This is how the RSS-BJP puppet body has come out with a circular that the screening of this documentary is unauthorized and it can disturb communal harmony. The truth in 'Ram Ke Naam' has been shown that BJP is in this country," he said. What is it doing and how communal hatred is being spread in this secular country by right-wing extremists?"

"JNUSU will not back down at any cost. This event will happen and we request the JNU student community to gather in large numbers at 9 pm to watch this documentary," he said.

JNUSU Vice President Saket Moon said that the administration cannot decide what the students will see.

He said, "December 6 will be the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid. We decided to organize a screening of the documentary. The university administration cannot decide what the students will watch. The documentary is publicly and freely available on YouTube and it has made a mark in the field." Won awards too."