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Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Univs urged to cut academic ties with Pak, Turkiye & Bangladesh
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has urged Indian universities to sever ties with institutions in Pakistan, Turkiye, and Bangladesh, citing national security concerns and alleged support for anti-India narratives. Several universities, including JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia, have already suspended or terminated collaborations with Turkish institutions. The AIU frames this as a patriotic duty to protect India's sovereignty. NEW DELHI: The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) Thursday wrote to vice chancellors across the country urging them to sever academic ties with institutions in Pakistan, Turkiye, and Bangladesh, citing national security concerns . Institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia and Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU), have already suspended or terminated their academic collaborations with Turkish higher education institutions, while Delhi University is reviewing its MoUs. In a strongly worded letter, 'Appeal for National Solidarity in Response to Pakistan and Its Allies' State-Sponsored Terrorism Against India', to all the 1,100 universities, AIU president professor Vinay Kumar Pathak condemned what he described as 'state-sponsored terrorism' and criticised countries such as Turkiye and Bangladesh for supporting anti-India narratives. 'These efforts aim to destabilise our democratic fabric and national unity,' the letter reads, calling on Indian universities to 'review and, if needed, suspend or end' partnerships with institutions in the three nations. JNU has suspended an MoU with Turkiye's Inonu University 'due to national security considerations as JNU stands with the nation and the armed forces, many of whom are JNU Alumni,' said Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, VC of the university. Jamia has suspended all forms of collaborations with Turkish educational and other establishments. UP govt-run CSJMU has terminated its MoUwith Istanbul University. The AIU letter frames the appeal as a patriotic duty, emphasising the need for 'national solidarity' over academic convenience. It encourages institutions to put the integrity and sovereignty of the nation above global engagements where anti-India propaganda is evident. While critics may see this as a politicisation of education, AIU said the appeal is rooted in protecting India's core values and national interest. 'India's academic institutions stand united in condemnation of terrorism,' the letter declared.
News18
15-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Nation's Dignity Above Academics': Kanpur University Scraps MoU With Turkish University
Last Updated: The Vice Chancellor of Kanpur University cancelled the MoU with a Turkish university, citing national sovereignty over Turkey's stance following Operation Sindoor. Vice Chancellor of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU), Prof Vinay Kumar Pathak, has announced the cancellation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Turkish university, citing national interest and concerns over Turkey's stance following Operation Sindoor. Pathak shared that the agreement was initially signed in November 2023 after a visit to Turkey. 'I went to a conference in Turkey, went to a university in Istanbul and met their rector Zulfikar. We signed an MoU in November after a discussion for combined research," he told news agency ANI. #WATCH | Kanpur, UP | Vice Chancellor of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Vinay Kumar Pathak says, 'I went to a conference in Turkey, went to a University in Istanbul and met their rector Zulfikar. We signed an MoU in November after a discussion for combined research…… — ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2025 However, the developments after Operation Sindoor, where Turkish drones were reportedly spotted in India, prompted a serious rethink. 'When we saw after Operation Sindoor that drones of Turkey have come to India and Turkey is acting like the enemy of India, we immediately cancelled the MoU and informed them that academics are not greater than the sovereignty and dignity of the country. We will not do MoU with any enemy country," the Vice Chancellor said. Prof Pathak, who also serves as the President of All Indian Universities, said he has urged his peers to take similar action. 'I have written in the group of Vice Chancellors that if we have any MoU with any of the enemy countries — Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey or any other — they must be immediately revoked," he said. He further advised Indian scholars and students to reconsider academic engagements with such nations. 'I suggest that our people should not go to these countries since their economy depends on us," he added. The MoU between CSJMU and Istanbul University was a general agreement aimed at facilitating student and faculty exchange programmes. First Published: May 15, 2025, 15:27 IST
