JNU Suspends MoU with Turkey’s Inonu University Citing National Security Concerns

According to an official statement on Wednesday, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) said that they are now suspending an academic MoU with Turkiye's Inonu University for 'national security' purposes.

“Due to National Security considerations, the MoU between JNU and Inonu University, Turkey stands suspended until further notice,” the university administration wrote on X.

Also Read: India Blocks China’s Global Times X Account Amidst Rising India-Pakistan Tension

The MoU had been signed for three years on February 3.

“We have suspended the MoU with Turkiye's Inonu University. Under the pact, there were plans for faculty exchange and student exchange programmes, among others,” a senior official told PTI.

The JNU decision comes against the backdrop of severe backlash for Turkey's support of Pakistan in the ongoing crisis during India's Operation Sindoor. Turkish and Azerbaijani delegations condemned India's operations to destroy terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir after Pakistan used Turkish Kamikaze drones in its failed attack on Indian military infrastructure.

Also Read: Salman Khan Returns to Mumbai Under Heavy Security After Ceasefire Tweet Backlash

Backlash against Turkey

Turkey's support for Pakistan against India had drawn severe condemnation within India with merchants calling for a boycott of goods originating in the Middle Eastern country while tourism companies helpful to travel to the well-visited travel destination had also canceled their bookings.

Days later, after traders in Maharashtra's Pune declared to 'boycott' Turkish apples, several vendors in Uttar Pradesh had repeated their newly adopted practice to boycott any commerce with Turkey in opposition to Turkey's support for Pakistan.

Subhash Goyal, Chairman of Tourism Committee at the Chamber of Commerce, said, “It is unfortunate that we helped Turkey a lot when there was an earthquake there. We even sent our doctors, dog squad and medical squad. We called it Operation Dost. We could not have imagined that Turkey would take such a step, and it will do everything in connivance with our enemy. The Travel Agent Association of India and the rest of the travel associations have supported a boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan.”

Lawyers from the legal firm Lex Jurists had also jointly announced the cancellation of their business trip to Azerbaijan. Rajendra Singh, Managing Partner of the firm, said, “We had planned our trip before the Pahalgam attack took place but as soon as we heard the news, we immediately cancelled the trip. My priority now would be to promote tourism in our own country.”

Also Read: India Rejects China’s Renaming of Arunachal Pradesh Locations as ‘Vain and Preposterous’