After working on wall graffitis, the detractors of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor BB Bhattacharya have trained their brushes on canines roaming around the campus

Miscreants paint JNU vice-chancellor's name on canines

Perhaps a case of barking up the wrong tree. After working on wall graffitis, the detractors of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor BB Bhattacharya have trained their brushes on canines roaming around the campus.

Synonymous with terror because of several cases of dog bites, these animals have now become canvases for the campaign against the extension in term of the vice-chancellor.
Miscreants have painted 'VC' and 'BBB GO' on at least three stray dogs.

When MiD DAY quizzed various student organisations, most of them refused to comment. However, the BJP-backed ABVP claimed it has been done by the "radical Leftist forces" on the campus, represented by AISA and DSU.

Vineet Chaturvedi, JNU ABVP secretary, who claimed that he has been watching the painted dogs for last 10-15 days, said, "We boycotted the referendum held by some of the students' organisations on the reappointment of the vice-chancellor but never in such an undemocratic manner. JNU is known for mature politics. Acts such as this will only tarnish JNU's image. We are not the competent authority to decide the appointment of the vice-chancellor of the University."

"They might have written such slogans after offering biscuits to the dogs. I pity AISA and DSC activists, who have become so helpless that they had to take the help of hapless animals to convey their message. It's shameful," he added.

Refuting the charges levied by the right-wing party, Sandeep Singh, former JNUSU president and all India president of AISA, said: "I don't know on what basis they leveled such allegations. If we would have done it we would have openly admitted it."

SFI, an affiliate of the CPI(M), and NSUI, connected to the Congress, both expressed ignorance about the matter, calling it "shameful".

Situation vacant

A three-member committee has been formed by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to search for a new vice-chancellor. Bhattacharya's term will come to an end on May 29. He has already informed the Ministry of Human Resource Development that he is not interested in retaining his post for a second term.

JNU students held a referendum on the campus on April 20 regarding the proposed re-appointment of Bhattacharya as vice-chancellor. A majority of the students voted against the re-appointment. None of the teachers agreed to come on record on the issue.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
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Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a professor from the School of Social Sciences, said, "I have seen the dogs on campus. It's sad that the standards of public discourse in JNU have stooped so low. Things were never so bad."u00a0

Naresh Kadyan of People for Animals said, "The administration must take some immediate action, as this is a crime under section 71 of Prevention of cruelty Act."

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