Xavier’s principal's email: Is BJP trying to stifle freedom of expression?

The principal of St Xavier’s college, Dr Frazer Mascarenhas in Mumbai has written a strongly-worded email to students of the college, where he has criticised the Gujarat Model of Development while praising UPA’s Rojgar Yojana and Food Security bill. It reads, " The Gujarat model has been highlighted for our consideration…Is the growth of big business, the making of huge profits, the achievement of high production – what we seek? Or is it the quality of life for the majority in terms of affordable basic goods and services and the freedom to take forward the cultural aspirations of our plural social groups that make up India?" [caption id=“attachment_1493807” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Represntational image. Inage courtesy: Wikimedia commons[/caption] As soon as the news broke, while the BJP jumped in to criticise the letter, calling it a violation of the model code of conduct and even launched a complain with the Election Commission, the Congress praised it. Leader like Sanjay Jha and Shashi Tharoor tweeted praises of the email. In a polarised election like this was it correct for the principal of such a prestigious instigious institution to have said such a thing in public? Former professor of the college, Father Heredia said, “The issue is not if the email should or should not have been written. It is Father Mascarenhas’s freedom as a citizen to take up the issue. Those who feel offended by it will oppose it.” “We need a social democracy. It should focus on the developmental model rather than anything else,” he said. President of Mumbai’s BJP unit Ashish Shelar said, “If the Father would have made statement in his personal capacity I would have had no issues. As principal of an institute by funded by the state government, he is trying to campaign against a party.” “The content is totally untrue and not well informed. If as an academician he wants his students to be well informed, then there should be debate. He has conveniently used his position as principal,” Shelar. Meanwhile, the way the Congress has praised the email, it seems to fit in with the narrative of the party. It also seems to be deriving benefit out of it. Sanjay Jha denying the allegations chose to slam the BJP. “The BJP is genuinely rattled. At no point is he making direct recommendation to the students. Father Mascarenhas has got every right to talk to his student and convey his ideas. In terms of content the father has absolute constitutional right to say what he wants to.” Questioning the like of Ramdev Baba and Shri Shri Ravi Shankar endorsing the BJP, Jha said, “The BJP is trying to stifle the freedom of expression. Murli Manohar Joshi as an education minister was trying to change the textbooks and make RSS champions of India’s independence.” The email may have been controversial, but is the BJP targetting St Xavier’s College because it is an institution run by minorities? Shelar said, “We have not targeted anyone.” Replying to Jha’s point on Ramdev, he said “Ramdev and Ravi Shankar have gone on record to support Modi. If the Father is trying to support Congress let him come on record and say it and not as a principal. By using institute which is funded by state, it is violation of the model code of conduct.” Meanwhile socialogist Deepankar Gupta said, “Father Mascarenhas may have the right. But it is not proper. No academic should espouse a political point of view even in a class. A professor is a professor is a professor. What he should do is put the fact to students as best he can. And stop short of giving out his personal idea. Shri Shri Ravi Shankar and company should not be doing this as well.” Meanwhile alumni of the college, Gerson Da Decunha said, “Mascarenhas has not taken sides, he has not said vote for this one or that one. All the facts that he has place before his students is common knowledge. All the students who CNN-IBN interviewed said that this does not influence them. He has assembled the facts and put them in a way that conveys his point. Do you want him to write a secret letter? He is open and transparent about his views.” “Today young students make up their own minds, I dont think this is more than a storm in a tea cup,” he said.