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New Delhi : Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Emerita Zoya Hasan\u2019s scheduled address at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya\u2019s Independence Day programme was cancelled following a protest outside the school by Hindutva goons.<\/p>\n
According to Kashmir Media Service, Hasan had been invited as chief guest to hoist the national flag and speak on \u2018Why pluralism matters\u2019 at the school\u2019s Lodi Estate campus. She said she received a formal invitation on August 14 and that arrangements were confirmed until 8:30 am Friday, when the school manager informed her the event was cancelled citing a security threat.<\/p>\n
Around 10 to 15 Vishwa Hindu Parishad members had gathered outside the school in the morning, after which a larger police contingent was deployed. The school confirmed Hasan\u2019s participation was called off due to security concerns, but did not specify whether the decision was taken on police direction or by the school.<\/p>\n
Delhi Police said the school had informed it of a threat and denied forcing the cancellation, stating personnel were deployed only for protection. Gujarat Education Society president and school alumna Shveta Kalyanwala replaced Hasan, and the programme went ahead in the auditorium. Speaking to the media, Hasan said there had been no disagreement over her topic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think dissent is important, diversity is important,\u201d she said, adding that opposition to dissenting views should be expressed through competing views rather than by seeking to crush them. \u201cToo bad for them,\u201d she said when asked about reports that the objection was linked to her ideological positioning.<\/p>\n
Academics Jayati Ghosh and Apoorvanand criticised the cancellation on social media, saying protesters should have been restrained instead of preventing Hasan from addressing students. The VHP did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New Delhi : Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Emerita Zoya Hasan\u2019s scheduled address at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya\u2019s Independence Day programme was cancelled following a protest outside the school by Hindutva goons. According to Kashmir Media Service, Hasan had been invited as chief guest to hoist the national flag and speak on \u2018Why pluralism matters\u2019 at the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":208032,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-208030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india"],"yoast_head":"\n