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Academics & researchers from IITs, DU, JNU urge Indians to vote against ‘those who lynch’

The academics, also from TIFR and Ambedkar University, have written a letter, requesting people to not endorse politics that creates fear.

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New Delhi: Over 150 academics and researchers have appealed to Indians to vote “wisely” and against those who lynch people, and discriminate on the basis of religion, caste, gender, language or region.

The group, in a letter issued Tuesday, appealed to the citizens “to vote against inequality, intimidation, discrimination, and unreason”.

The academics include those from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Delhi University (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and Ambedkar University, among others. The letter has been signed by DU professors Abha Dev Habib, Nandita Narain, IIT-Bombay professor Abhijit Majumder and Central Drug Research Institute researcher Saman Habib, among others.

“The upcoming election is a crucial one. It asks for a re-affirmation of the most fundamental guarantees our Constitution gives us — equal rights to faith or lack thereof, culture, language, association, personal liberty and freedom of expression. These rights, even as they accrue to each of us individually, can only exist if they accrue to all Indian citizens — without partiality or discrimination,” the letter stated.

“To defend these rights, we must reject those who lynch or assault people, those who discriminate against people because of religion, caste, gender, language or region,” the letter added.

“Again, we must reject those who encourage such practices. We cannot endorse a politics that divides us, creates fears, and marginalises a large fraction of our society — women, Dalits, adivasis, religious minorities, persons with disabilities or the poor. Diversity is our democracy’s greatest strength; discrimination and non-inclusivity strike at its very foundation.”


Also read: BJP rebel to fight party in Jammu, gets daughter of Kathua rape accused as star campaigner


‘Vote wisely’

The academics further wrote they do not want to give the youth a future where scientists, activists and rationalists are hounded, harassed, intimidated, censored, jailed, or worse, murdered.

“We appeal to all citizens to vote wisely, weighing arguments and evidence critically. We appeal to all citizens to remember our constitutional commitment to scientific temper. We appeal to you to vote against inequality, intimidation, discrimination, and unreason,” the letter stated.

Last week, over 100 filmmakers, most of who work either independently or on documentary movies, had released a statement appealing people to not vote for the BJP.


Also read: BJP will amplify national security rhetoric, welfare delivery to counter Congress manifesto


 

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20 COMMENTS

  1. Most of the comments have come from upper caste people.
    What logic says that if there have been lynchings earlier, it is okay it these happen again?
    No one has said that these things are morally and legally wrong.
    Will these people have the same opinion if one of their relatives are lynched?

  2. People are not fools, badging themselves as academicians doesn’t make them wise. You people so called academicians are exposed now. We know whom interest are at threat now, who were enjoying at the cost and sacrifices of majority to appease certain fringe elements of minority.

  3. Voting is just one aspect of ensuring a good future for the citizens. Living true to the values and traditions of our sacred land is equally if not more important. While it may be true that the “average academic type” may not have the same reverence for Indian culture as the average citizen, it is not wise to fight amongst ourselves and give rise to divisiveness. Let us remember that even a misguided Indian, is an Indian. The statement from these 100+ academics is best ignored. Attaching labels to them or deriding them, weakens all of us.

  4. I am a recently graduated academic from IIM Ahmedabad and I say vote for Modi government. The headlines write ‘100 academics urge against voting Modi’ but don’t tell that these are only a few 100 compared to 1000’s of academics who also support the government. On every topic, academics have a habit to pull out an ‘identity’ card and portray one as victim and other oppressor, even though this may not be the dynamic that shapes conflicts at all times. So yes, please vote wisely. Use your brain and don’t blindly trust academics to tell you where to vote. The trust of masses is now being misused by our community.

  5. The people representing academic should concentrate on upliftment of people by extending quality & quantity education. If it is done well they don’t have to guide other in chooseing the right people. Somewhere it seems they suddenly woke up today

  6. I almost agree. It points to vote for Modi Govt. If they have something else in mind it is their concern.
    Prof. Murty

  7. Academicians should ensure that anti patriotism slogans must be stopped in income tax funded higher education institutes.

    Rest we will vote for BJP for development of our nation.

  8. All they want to say is, Ban Reservation, Never vote for INC, TMC and CPIM, Kashmiri Muslims aren’t Indians and hence should NOT be facilitated by our tax, National Security and Lives of our Soldiers matter, manifestos which claim to give protection to Lutyens and Naxals should NOT be considered fit for the Nation.

    HENCE, VOTE FOR BJP.
    Every well educated human being supports BJP.

  9. One sided narrative by pseudos.
    Who is minority in Kashmir?
    How come Rohingyas find place in far flung Jammu & very original inhabitants Pandits thrown out?
    Who discriminates resource distribution based on religion?.
    Who are these Tukde gang sympathisers of maoist & other muslim radicals to talk now?
    Where were they in 1966 (lynching of sadus in Delhi), 1984 (mass killing of Sikhs), 1990 (uprooting roots of kashmir).
    Kanha gaye Hind ke log…Kanha gaye Hind ke log…???!

  10. Yes, they are very right!! I will also vote for anti Congress , I will go for BJP this time!! People shouts Allah hu Akbar and destroy properties, Life of non Muslims, rape non Muslims and forced conversion as well!! Thanks for the advice! I have voted for Left last time!!

  11. This is heartening to hear from Academics. This is a democracy. Let s not encourage hate spreadsheets and coloring of minds. Who divided and what is lynching, people know very well.

  12. Why these so called intelligentia was silent when tukde gang from JNU shouted Bharat teri tukde ho inshallah, why they are silent when earlier govt put Nambinaraysn a scientist from ISRO jailed by then govt. Whyere was Thier gut feeling when Cong govt did not initiate any action against 1984 lynching Congress mob till 2014.Thier wisdom doesn’t permit them do so? Why hypocricy.DuringLast Bihar election there was Award wapsi. Then intolerance.now new gimmick by these wisemen.Whenever Election comes these people come alive because they doNT the get freebies enjoyed earlier from UPA, NOW. Padmashri, Padma Bhushan is now given to deserved candidates rather than Lutyens. Those who comment against the present govt are followers of urban naxals. Thier mindset still wants ITALIAN TO REULE. Our country. Shameless so called intelligentsia. They have liberty to say anything against the govt. But some onecriticises them , it becomes intolerance. Tamasha of great Indian democracy

  13. Why such comments didn’t came after ’84 Riots, Kashimi Pandits annihilation, Bhagalpur Riots and many more WIDE SCALE LYNCHINGS! This is just a propaganda nothing more than that and Vote is someone’s own choice who are they to tell How we should give vote!

  14. What is caste-based reservation, caste-based application fees, caste-based tuition fees, caste-based hostel fees, caste-based stationery? Are these examples of non-discrimination? Who started this and who is continuing with it?

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