J&K University Professor Allegedly Calls Bhagat Singh a Terrorist, Angry Students Demand His Ouster

New Delhi: A senior professor from the University of Jammu and Kashmir has come under fire for referring to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh as a terrorist during a lecture.

Furious over the remarks, which were made during a two-hour lecture, the students are demanding the resignation of M Taj-ud-din, a senior professor and head of the political science department at the university. “We have demanded the resignation of professor Taj-ud-din. Our voice is being suppressed by the authorities. If Bhagat Singh was a terrorist, who is the hero, Zakir Musa?" said one of the students.

According to a report in The Tribune, Vinay Thusoo, official spokesperson of the university, said professor Manoj K Dhar, Vice Chancellor, had constituted a high-level committee headed by the senior-most professor of the university, to look into the complaint of students.

Dismissing speculations of his suspension, professor Taj-ud-din told News 18: The V-C has not suspended me but formed a committee to look into the complaint. Since exams are nearing, I have no more classes to teach as of now."

Taj-ud-din said he was delivering a long lecture and made several references which are now being projected in the wrong context. “In a university, things cannot be monitored like this. My intention was not to call Bhagat Singh a terrorist. I respect him as much as any other Indian does. If people’s sentiments are hurt, I regret it. A two-hour lecture cannot be seen in the context of just two minutes," he said.

The professor later, also issued a clarification to the news agency ANI. "I also consider Bhagat Singh a revolutionary. He is one of the people who sacrificed their lives for the country," he said.

Apologising for hurting the sentiments of people, he went on to explain that he was taking a lecture on the Russian revolutionary Lenin and in the context of that he said that the "state calls any violence against it 'terrorism'"

"Someone took a 25-second video out of my 2-hrs lecture. Terrorist word came in that,it wasn't what I meant. Still,if anyone is hurt,I'm really sorry for it," he added.