JNU suspends MoU with Turkish Inonu University
The academic partnership, signed on February 3 for a three-year term, aimed to foster cross-cultural research and student exchange.
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JNU had signed the academic partnership with the Turkish university on February 3 for a three-year term, with an aim to foster cross-cultural research and student exchange. (Express Archive Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has suspended its academic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Inonu University in Turkey, citing national security concerns, university officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The academic partnership, signed on February 3 for a three-year term, aimed to foster cross-cultural research and student exchange. However, in a statement posted Wednesday on X, JNU said: “Due to National Security considerations, the MoU between JNU and Inonu University, Turkiye stands suspended until further notice. JNU stands with the Nation. #NationFirst.”
Inonu University, located in Malatya, entered the agreement as part of broader efforts to strengthen international academic collaboration. The two JNU schools involved in the MoU are School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies and School of Computer and Systems Sciences.
“JNU has suspended the MoU due to national security considerations, as JNU stands with the nation and the Armed Forces, many of whom are JNU alumni,” V-C Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit said.
The decision to suspend the MoU comes against the backdrop of tensions between India and Pakistan. India’s trade relation with Turkiye is expected to come under strain due to Ankara backing Islamabad and condemning India’s recent strikes on terror camps in Pakistan. Calls for boycotting Turkish goods and tourism have already surfaced across the country.
As reported by The Indian Express, importers at Pune and Mumbai’s wholesale fruit markets have said that Turkish apples – typically available between October and January – have not yet reached Indian shelves this season.
Many traders have pledged support for a boycott. “Apples from the US, Poland, Iran, and South Africa are sufficient to meet domestic demand,” a Pune-based trader had said, noting that Himachal Pradesh and other northern states are already contributing significantly to the domestic supply.
India had imported 11.76 lakh tonnes of apples from Turkiye in 2023-24 fiscal year, making it a major player in that category. Other Turkish exports to India include pistachios, peas, and lentils, such as masur.
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