Kanpur university terminates MoU with Istanbul University citing Turkey's hostility towards India

Lucknow: Stating that nothing was above the Nation, the Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University (CSJM) at Kanpur has terminated its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkiye’s Istambul University following Turkiye’s open ‘anti-India’ stance during the recently concluded ‘’Operation Sindoor’’ against Pakistan.

CSJMU vice-chancellor Professor Vinay Kumar Pathak has written a letter to the Rector of Istambul University informing him about his varsity’s decision to terminate the MoU with immediate effect.

Pathak said that the decision to terminate the MoU was taken following Turkiye’s support to Pakistan during the ' ‘Operation Sindoor’’ which reflected its hostility toward India. ‘’We firmly believe that any Institution which is directly or indirectly associated with Pakistan can not be considered to be a trustworthy academic associate,’’ he added.

‘’Academic excellence is important but nothing is above the Nation,’’ the VC remarked.

Pathak, who was also the president of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), also appealed to fellow vice-chancellors and academicians to adopt a patriotic and principled stand rising above traditional academic boundaries on this issue.

‘’We must send a firm message to the world that India’s educational institutions are united in condemning terrorism and safeguarding the unity and integrity of the country.....we will not cooperate with any institution, which weakens our unity and integrity or puts the lives of the people in danger,’’ Pathak said.

Turkiye has been facing a severe backlash from the people after its open support to Pakistan following India’s precision strikes on terror hubs inside Pakistan. A large number of travel bookings have been cancelled and the government has also cancelled the license of a Turkiye based company which handled security at many Indian airports.