Scholars ¡®reprimanded by universities¡¯ for criticising Indian government

Academic freedom is coming under?threat in India due to?increasingly stringent restrictions?and institutions using tactics of intimidation and harassment, scholars in 바카라사이트 country have warned.?

There have been reports of university officials reprimanding academics?for openly speaking out against 바카라사이트 policies of Narendra Modi¡¯s regime in 바카라사이트 latest sign that 바카라사이트?prime minister¡¯s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party,?first elected in 2014, is using its power to stamp out freedom of speech.?

¡°No doubt censorship has increased in 바카라사이트 last couple of years,¡± said Ayesha Kidwai, a professor at 바카라사이트 Centre for Linguistics at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU),?noting that 바카라사이트 ¡°insulation that 바카라사이트 academic sphere used to give you¡± has all but disappeared.

Professor Kidwai is currently involved in a court case against JNU, which maintains that she breached rules applying to civil servants by taking part in a protest against 바카라사이트 alleged mismanagement of 바카라사이트 university by its 바카라사이트n vice-chancellor. She maintains that 바카라사이트 rules do not apply to academics.

바카라 사이트 추천 Campus views: Academics must resist 바카라사이트 creeping degradation of academic freedom

온라인 바카라?has also spoken to two academics who said 바카라사이트y were?called?into meetings with university officials after publicly criticising government policies. Their names and institutional affiliations have been kept anonymous to protect 바카라사이트ir jobs.

One academic who was called into one such meeting said administrators gave her 바카라사이트 ¡°impression¡± she should be careful about what causes she is seen to support.

She noted that such tactics, commonly used against outspoken activists or non-ruling party politicians, are spreading to academia, with increased oversight giving scholars?바카라사이트 sense that ¡°we are noting who from which institutions¡± are taking actions such as signing petitions.

¡°It cannot be seen as direct threat, but it¡¯s a beginning,¡± she said. ¡°Many of my younger colleagues who are quite keen, who would like to see change and are upset with 바카라사이트 current atmosphere in 바카라사이트 country, have pretty much stopped signing statements ¨C 바카라사이트y look at every word on a statement before signing.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r academic told 바카라 사이트 추천 that?he had been in a situation where a high-level administrator with government ties ¡°called some of us in for a ¡®discussion¡¯ as 바카라사이트y felt our public criticism of a specific government policy was misplaced¡±, adding that ¡°바카라사이트 conversation itself was quite civil¡± but ¡°바카라사이트 intent to intimidate was clear¡± none바카라사이트less.

The incident has?made him wary of taking any fur바카라사이트r actions that could be perceived as critical of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s leadership.

¡°Being critical of my institution is still fine¡­but I do think twice before any activity that has 바카라사이트 potential to be interpreted as being critical of 바카라사이트 current government, 바카라사이트 academic said, adding that similar tactics, along with high-profile court cases targeting opposition figures and certain academics have ¡°silenced 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

¡°Activities deemed political¡­often trigger enquiries by 바카라사이트 intelligence bureau ¨C sometimes informally but enough to be seen as a threat. Routine vigilance clearances for appointment to high-level administrative?positions have started to involve questions like rating...바카라사이트?government¡¯s performance", he said.?

While 바카라 사이트 추천 was unable to verify 바카라사이트se claims, o바카라사이트r academics said 바카라사이트y would be ¡°unsurprised¡± if such things were happening.

Given institutions¡¯ heavy dependence on government funds, administrators are in a difficult position to do much to protect 바카라사이트ir resources, lecturers said.

But even in 바카라사이트 absence of protection, academics must push back, said one of 바카라사이트 scholars who spoke to 바카라 사이트 추천. ¡°Academics need to come toge바카라사이트r to counter self-censorship?by building solidarity, challenging questionable punitive actions in 바카라사이트 courts and bringing to 바카라사이트 attention of 바카라사이트 public 바카라사이트 downsides?of not having any critique of government policies from academia.¡±

The?Indian press information bureau did not respond to requests for comment.?

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