Trouble has erupted within the very committee tasked with investigating the hijab controversy at Jadavpur University. A section of university students has raised objections against Governor's representative Kazi Masum Akhtar, who is on the committee, and has become vocal in demanding his removal from the committee.
Meanwhile, Kazi Masum Akhtar expressed no confidence in the investigation committee's chairperson, Professor Syed Tanvir Nasreen of Burdwan University, and refused to join the first day's online meeting. He has written a letter to the Vice-Chancellor targeting Tanvir. Masum claims that if Tanvir remains on the committee, a 'transparent and impartial' investigation will not be possible. Tanvir, in turn, has claimed that Masum's allegations are politically motivated.
As a result, the progress of Jadavpur's hijab investigation has effectively come to a standstill. The first day's meeting also had to be cancelled, though it was online.
Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Chiranjib Bhattacharjee said, "This has created a strange problem. Is it possible to include people according to everyone's preference on the committee? This is an extremely unfortunate incident. The committee should be allowed to work."
A few days ago, allegations arose that two female students were forced to remove their hijabs against their will during an examination in Jadavpur University's English department. The allegation was raised against the departmental head. The university authorities formed a fact-finding committee, which includes Tanvir, Masum, and a university professor.
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This week, the state minority commission's full bench came to the university to investigate this incident on the ground. Tanvir was also present as an invited member on that bench. After the meeting with the commission authorities, they left with a recommendation to remove the English department head from his position during the investigation. Kazi Masum Akhtar wrote to the Vice-Chancellor, "How could Tanvir Nasreen, chairperson of the fact-finding committee formed by the university, come to Jadavpur University on December 30 as a team member of the minority commission to investigate even before the investigation began? Then can the impartiality and transparency of the fact-finding committee's investigation be maintained?"
Masum claims he has also given a copy of the letter to the Governor and Chancellor CV Ananda Bose.
Tanvir, however, considers this letter to be motivated. She clearly states that she has no connection with the minority commission. She is not even a member of the commission. The commission had invited her as a representative of civil society. That's why she went there.
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In her words, "I have no association with the commission whatsoever. I did not express any opinion at that day's meeting. Since I have been made chairperson of the fact-finding committee, I went there to utilise that opportunity to hear what all parties of the university are saying about this incident."
Due to the cancellation of the online meeting, Tanvir has emailed the Vice-Chancellor requesting to quickly schedule the first meeting. Regarding Masum's letter, Tanvir's statement is: "He is raising this fabricated allegation to obstruct the investigation. This will delay the judicial process."
Meanwhile, some students from the English department have approached the authorities with various allegations against Kazi Masum Akhtar, demanding either his exclusion from the committee or the inclusion of student representatives in that committee. Their allegation is that Masum himself makes various religiously divisive statements. He has good relations with the RSS and the BJP. The issue of his closeness with Murshidabad's Kartik Maharaj has also been mentioned.
Student representative Indranuj Roy said, "We have multiple evidence where Kazi Masum Akhtar has made multiple religiously divisive and provocative statements."
Masum says, "Tanvir is getting some students to do all this. I am not associated with any party. I say whatever comes to my mind about social and domestic issues. Not from any party interest. Some may like it, some may dislike it." Consequently, amid this complexity, uncertainty has been created about the future of the fact-finding committee.
