CPI MP Binoy Viswam has written a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the undemocratic and illegal suspension of four faculty members of the South Asian University. Viswam criticized the actions of SAU administration as unbecoming of a host during the G20 Summit hosted by India. In his letter, he expressed concern over the authoritarian stance of the SAU administration, which has tarnished the university’s motto of Knowledge Without Borders by instituting punitive borders among faculty and students.
The four faculty members were suspended for inciting students against the SAU administration during the student protest over significantly reduced monthly stipends. However, Viswam argued that the faculty members were only trying to mediate between the grievous students and the obtuse administration in the interest of pedagogy. Viswam further said that displaying such intolerance for constructive criticism is unbecoming of a university intended to inculcate dialogue among neighbors and minimize divisions.
The SAU administration’s conduct has come under scrutiny from international circles, especially over their unjust treatment of students last year. Viswam urged the union minister to prevail upon the SAU administration to revoke this authoritarian decree and make efforts through SAARC to address the multiple concerns plaguing SAU.
The conduct of the SAU administration is undignified as a host, at a time when India is hosting the G20 summit. I hope that these issues will find your urgent attention, wrote Viswam. The communist party leader further said that this legally untenable and highly undemocratic suspension of faculty is alarming, which requires immediate redressal.
The South Asian University, which was formed with the high ideals of integrating neighboring SAARC countries, needs to adhere to all democratic norms and rules. Hence, Viswam’s letter rightly demanded the revocation of suspensions and appealed to the SAU administration to consider the multiple grievances of students, faculty, and other stakeholders.
