Will JNU Introduce ‘Counter Terrorism’ As Optional Subject? Decision On This Date

New Delhi: One of the most controversial universities in India, JNU has proposed to include “Counter Terrorism” as a subject in the course curriculum. The JNU Executive Council is set to discuss and grant approval for the same in a meeting scheduled for September 2.

A section of JNU teachers and students have objected to the introduction of the subject, alleging the subject states that ‘Jihadi Terrorism’ is the only form of ‘fundamentalist-religious terrorism’.

The course, titled ‘Counter-Terrorism, Asymmetric Conflicts and Strategies for Cooperation among Major Powers’, also asserts that Communist regimes in the Soviet Union and China were the state-sponsors of terrorism that influenced radical Islamic states, reported India TV.

Although the paper is optional for the students, through this the engineering students will be taught how to deal with terrorism and what was the role of world powers concerning this as a factor. A controversy has erupted regarding the subject matter of this optional paper.

The Designer of the Course, Professor and Chairperson of the School of International Studies, Arvind Kumar said, “This is part of our course where students after doing B Tech come to study about International Relations. That’s why we have chosen this subject which has to do with international security as well as technology; the fight against terrorism is an important topic from India’s perspective, At a time when many countries of the world are not paying as much attention to India’s security needs as necessary, this topic becomes even more important for our students.”

“Jihad is a global challenge, at this point of time when Afghanistan has been occupied by the Taliban; nothing could have been a more contemporary topic than this,” he further said.

Although the Academic Council — the decision-making committee of the university on academic matters — has put its stamp on the new subject, still the green signal from the Executive Council — the highest body of the university concerning management — is necessary.

ALSO READ: JNU Entrance Exam Application Deadline Gets Extension Till This Date