On Thursday, Jawaharlal University Vice-Chancellor Shantishree Pandit stated that it was an “unfortunate phase” for the university when its image was marred by words like ‘anti-national’ or ‘tukde-tukde’. She went on to say that the situation was incorrect on both sides and that selecting “10% lunatic fringes” could not represent the rest of the “90% faculty.”. Her words occurred during an interview with the Press Trust of India (PTI).

When asked, “JNU was once deemed a ‘anti-national’ university. Did you endorse or investigate whether that was the case, or did this perspective reflect reality? Pandit said, “I believe that was a phase in which both parties made mistakes.” The leadership there attempted to exert authority. It is not just JNU; any other university has a 10% ‘lunatic fringe’, and this 10% does not represent the majority of the faculty.”

“It is also about leadership, how we handle such situations, and people who have ‘extreme beliefs’. Everyone has it, but I do not believe we are ‘anti-national’ or ‘tukde-tukde’. JNU students have gotten into all of the country’s defence institutes – the NDA, the military, the air force, and the navy – and every officer has a degree from JNU,” she told PTI.

“Because, thanks to Indira Gandhi and the act of Parliament, we are the only university that is affiliated nationally. No other university, including Delhi University, can achieve this. And we have the best scientific institutes under us,” she explained.

“That was a dreadful phase. I would argue that owing to polarisation, the leadership failed to grasp, which is why, I believe, when Amitabh Kant and S Jaishankar arrived on campus, they declared that only a JNU alumni should become a JNU VC,” Shantishree replied, adding, “You have to be more democratic here. It cannot be regarded like IITs or IIMs; one must accept that people will disagree and argue.”