JNU cancels seminars featuring Palestinian, Lebanese, Iranian envoys
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has cancelled three seminars, originally scheduled to be addressed by the ambassadors of Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon, on ongoing West Asian conflicts. University sources cited "unavoidable circumstances" for the cancellation, but declined to provide further details.
The seminars, part of JNU's Centre for West Asian Studies series, were to include separate addresses by Iranian Ambassador Dr. Iraj Elahi, Palestinian Ambassador Adnan Abu Al-Haija, and Lebanese Ambassador Dr. Rabie Narsh. An email from seminar coordinator Sima Baidya informed students of the cancellations hours before the first seminar with Dr. Elahi was set to begin.
According to sources at the Iranian and Lebanese embassies, the decision came from the university, and they were unaware of specific reasons. The Palestinian Embassy did not respond to inquiries.
University insiders suggested that concerns over potential campus protests on these sensitive topics influenced the cancellations. Senior faculty members at JNU’s School of International Studies (SIS) reportedly voiced apprehensions regarding the events’ impact amid the current geopolitical climate. Dean Amitabh Mattoo reinforced the need for diplomatic protocol and coordination with the university administration before inviting high-level foreign officials to public events.
Chairperson Sameena Hameed of the Centre for West Asian Studies clarified that the Palestinian and Lebanese seminars were not officially scheduled by the Centre. She added that the Iranian event was postponed due to last-minute logistical challenges.
Despite the cancellations, Hameed reassured that JNU remains committed to hosting ambassadors from these regions in the future for academic discussions on pressing global issues.
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Maharashtra Congress chief Patole meets Kharge, dismisses resignation talk as 'rumours'
New Delhi, Nov 25: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday dismissed as "rumours" talk of his resignation following the assembly polls debacle and stressed on "collective accountability" for the defeat.
Patole made the remarks after meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge during which he conveyed that the result had not reflected the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra.
"Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other national and state leaders were leading Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) from the forefront during the assembly polls. So, we were sure that the trends were in favour of Maha Vikas Aghadi, even the citizens believed that," the Maharashtra Congress chief said.
"If I talk about Nanded, the Lok Sabha bypolls and assembly elections were held on the same day. In Lok Sabha bypolls, our candidate was winning in six assembly seats, whereas, in the assembly elections, we are not winning even a single seat," he said, adding that there cannot be such a "huge difference".
This is the sentiment among the people also and they have stated that this government in Maharashtra was not being formed on their votes, he claimed.
"So, I spoke to Mallikarjun Kharge on this," he added.
Asked whether he had offered to resign or the party had asked for his resignation after the Maharashtra assembly polls defeat, Patole said, "These are all rumours and there is no truth in them. There is collective accountability."
Patole also said he will meet Rahul Gandhi in a day or two and discuss all issues.
"Democracy is being finished. We have discussed that... there was no talk of resignation," he said.
The MVA alliance, comprising the Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Shiv Sena (UBT), was restrained to 46 seats by the Mahayuti that reaped a rich harvest of 230 seats in the 288-member House.
