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PRESS RELEASE |
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24 September 2008 |
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Briefly, the following points were made by the Vice Chancellor: |
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| 1. | This University is unequivocally against terror and violence. Nothing can justify the killings of innocent people since it is contrary to all civilized norms. | ||
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As the custodian of the secular inheritance of Dr Zakir Husain and others and as the guardian of all the students under his care, he said, ‘I am duty bound to protect the interests of all my students.’ |
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Jamia Millia Islamia has always stood by its secular legacy. The staff and students of Jamia must uphold that legacy at all costs. |
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The Vice Chancellor urged the students not to be defensive. He said, ‘We owe no explanation to no one except ourselves and our faith that unambiguously eschews violence. Our commitment is to the rule of law and to the Indian Constitution.’ |
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Without mincing words the Vice Chancellor said that, ‘Our answer to our critics is that we should be more secular than the others and we should cultivate an enlightened and liberal outlook while remaining true to one’s convictions.’ |
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He concluded by appealing to the media not to allow this incident to be politicized and to honour the secular credentials of this university. |
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On the issue of providing legal aid the Vice Chancellor clarified that students shall have access to legal aid. While the University will ensure that the students should get fair justice, it has no intention of intervening with the judicial processes or impeding police enquiries. On its part, the University is proceeding on the assumption that our students are not guilty unless proven otherwise. |
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Rakhshanda Jalil
Media Coordinator
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Copyright©Jamia Millia Islamia |
