JNU SFI unit condemns murder of T P Chandrasekharan.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University unit of the Students’ Federation of India has said in a pamphlet that it could not defend such unconvincing political decisions or remain silent on acts like the recent murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T. P. Chandrasekharan in Kerala, in which several CPI (M) functionaries have been arrested so far. The SFI national leadership has thus far remained silent on these issues.


Days after passing a resolution at its general body meeting criticising the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s decision to support Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature for President, the Jawaharlal Nehru University unit of the Students’ Federation of India has said in a pamphlet that it could not defend such unconvincing political decisions or remain silent on acts like the recent murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T. P. Chandrasekharan in Kerala, in which several CPI (M) functionaries have been arrested so far. The SFI national leadership has thus far remained silent on these issues.

“Neither can SFI-JNU defend unconvincing political decisions in public like support for Mr. Mukherjee in the Presidential elections, nor can it remain silent on acts like the recent murder of RMP leader T. P. Chandrasekharan in Kerala. Several CPI (M) functionaries have been arrested in the case so far, while investigations continue. The outrageous statement made by CPI (M) leader M. M. Mani has only made matters worse. This has become a major political issue in Kerala as well as JNU. The SFI-JNU has taken a principled position on the issue and demanded action against the guilty irrespective of political affiliations. The all-India leadership of the SFI has not adopted any stand on these issues till date,” said the pamphlet, signed by SFI-JNU president Anagha and joint-secretary Mohammed Altamash.

Criticising alleged attempts in the media to portray the SFI-JNU decision as an act against or in favour of certain individuals, the pamphlet said such interpretations “reflect a shallow understanding of the SFI’s legacy of seriously engaging with political-ideological debates.” The SFI-JNU said it was forced to convene the general body and initiate a debate in the face of strident criticism from other Left organisations on campus like the All-India Students’ Association and the SFI’s dipping fortunes in the JNU student union elections since 2007.

“The elections were held in the aftermath of the political developments in West Bengal, surrounding Singur and Nandigram. In the JNUSU elections held in March 2012, the SFI failed to reverse the adverse electoral trend witnessed in 2007. Organisational reviews in this period have identified both political and organisational reasons for the poor performance. However, the primacy of political factors, primarily those related to Singur-Nandigram and the general state of the Left movement in the country has been noted. In a Left-leaning political campus like JNU, these developments have eroded the SFI’s support base among the progressive and democratic minded students. The developments since 2007 have made the SFI vulnerable to attacks of “double-speak” by the ultra Left, which has gained at SFI’s cost,” the pamphlet added.
SFI dissolves JNU unit that attacked CPI(M) on Pranab

NB: The SFI members who decided to uphold their political judgement & conscience by condemning the murder of T. P. Chandrasekharan deserve the support & appreciation of all democrats. It shows they understand that the culture of brutality is destructive of the most basic principles of socialism. This news comes alongside the condemnation of the 'annihilation line' by Sabyasachi Panda, a senior Maoist leader in Odisha. See Extracts from Sabyasachi Panda's letter to Maoist leadershipFor decades the relation between socialism & democracy - and the parallel issue of violence - has remained the most crucial issue in  Left politics. I hope the younger generation of socialist activists will reach across partisan barriers, & evolve more humane, inclusive & democratic practices in their work. Readers may kindly peruse the excellent essay by Paul Zacharia Conduct of a Perfect Murder and my EPW article, A Hard Rain Falling - as contributions to a dialogue on the corrosive problem of vigilantism in Indian politics: Dilip

See also


Popular posts from this blog

Third degree torture used on Maruti workers: Rights body

Haruki Murakami: On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning

Albert Camus's lecture 'The Human Crisis', New York, March 1946. 'No cause justifies the murder of innocents'

The Almond Trees by Albert Camus (1940)

Etel Adnan - To Be In A Time Of War

After the Truth Shower

James Gilligan on Shame, Guilt and Violence