New Delhi: Hours after Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar demanded that a decommissioned Battle Tank be placed in the University campus to “remind the students of the sacrifices made by the Indian Army", he softened his stand by claiming that his demand was in the context of honoring JNU alumni who had gone on to become defence personnel.
Speaking to CNN-News 18 on Monday, the JNU VC said, “JNU has a very long association with many defence academic institutes. Cadets from Army, Navy and Air Force are trained here. Their degrees are given by JNU. These defence personnel are our alumni and we are proud of them."
“When we demand a decommissioned tank be placed on our campus, it is only in the context of recognizing and paying respect to the sacrifices of our own alumni. In the county, JNU is the only university which has a close association with the security forces," he said.
Earlier, however, his reasons for wanting a tank on campus were different. “An Army tank can be put up on display on the campus so that students can be reminded of the sacrifices and valour of the soldiers," he had said, while addressing an event marking 18 years of India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War.
A ‘Tiranga Rally’ was also held on the JNU Campus with students, academicians and ex-servicemen walking from the University’s Ganga Dhaba to the JNU Convention Center with a 2,200-feet-long Tricolour flag.
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