JNU's Student Union President Says VC is Blocking His MPhil Evaluation

New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president N. Sai Balaji, on Friday alleged that the varsity's vice chancellor is blocking his MPhil evaluation for allegedly raising "anti-Modi" slogans.

According to a statement released by the JNUSU, its chief is facing two enquiries –  one for raising "anti-Modi, anti-VC and anti-RSS" slogans outside an Academic Council meeting in the varsity.

Balaji is also being investigated for marching alongside contractual workers who were celebrating a court order for 'equal work, equal pay', and for opposing the JNU administration's online entrance exam, it said.

Similarly, other activists and students have been facing harassment from the administration through false and politically-motivated cases, the student body alleged.

"In JNU, the Modi government is trying to silence the voice of students by directly attacking the students representative, by blocking Balaji's MPhil evaluation," it said.

The JNUSU also alleged that VC Jagadeesh Kumar, at the behest of the Modi government, has been torturing teachers with new notices slapped on them every other day.

The varsity sources, however, said the academic activities of the JNUSU president will continue.

He will continue to have access to the library and his hostel, attend classes and other things, but will not be allowed to access documents like marksheets, they said.

Meanwhile, the JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) condemned "the attempt of the JNU administration to block the MPhil evaluation of Balaji" on the grounds of a pending enquiry against him at the proctor's office.

"This is clearly an overreach by the proctor's office and its misuse and instrumentalisation by the JNU administration to harass and target students who raise voice against their irrational and illegal actions," the JNUTA said.

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