JNU campus violence: Govt, opposition trade charges

The violence witnessed on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on Sunday (January 6) has led to a war of words between the government and the opposition with each blaming the other for the mayhem.

The Congress accused the government of harbouring enmity with youth of the country and said violence in the JNU campus reminded it of the Nazi rule.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the JNU administration of being complicit in the violent attack. It also alleged that the Delhi Police remained a mute spectator when students were being attacked by armed miscreants. “Why are you harbouring enmity with youth of country? The more you suppress voice of the youth, more emboldened it will become,” Surjewala told reporters. “Violence in JNU reminds us of Nazi rule 90 years ago,” he added.

Questioning how masked people could enter the university campus, Congress’s Kapil Sibal, said, “How were masked people allowed to enter the campus? What did the Vice Chancellor do? Why was police standing outside? What was the Home Minister doing? All these questions are unanswered. This is a clear conspiracy, investigation needed.”

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, the onslaught on students was the result of intolerance. “The Nazi-style attack on students and teachers on the campus of JNU are carried out by those who want to create unrest and violence in the country,” he said in a Facebook post.

“The Sangh Parivar forces must withdraw from this dangerous game of bloodshed on campus. It would be good if they understand that voice of students’ are the voice of the land,” he added.

Expressing concern over the incident Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a tweet, said, “Spoke to Hon’ble LG and urged him to direct police to restore order. He has assured that he is closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary steps.”

Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati too condemned the violence.

Hitting out at the Centre, Yadav said that masked men attacking teachers and students in JNU shows how “low” the government will stoop to rule through “fear” adding that the BJP is using violence and hate to polarise society.

“Masked men attacking teachers and students in JNU shows the low to which the government will stoop in order to rule through fear. The BJP is using violence and hate to polarise society and stifle dissent. The ABVP are acting like the storm troopers of the BJP,” he said in a tweet.

Comparing the JNU violence with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said students were feeling “unsafe” in the country. “The attack on JNU students on Sunday night reminded me of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Students are feeling unsafe in the country. I will not allow anything like JNU to happen in Maharashtra,” he told reporters here.

Also read: 100-odd masked goons unleash terror on JNU students, teachers

The BSP has termed the mob attack as shameful and demanded a judicial probe into the incident. “The violence against students and teachers in JNU is shameful and condemnable. The Centre should take it seriously and it would be better to order a judicial probe into it,” Mayawati said.

Asaduddin Owaisi, President of AIMIM, said, “I condemn this violence. There is no doubt these people were given the green signal by the powers that be. They had covered their faces in a cowardly way and were allowed to enter JNU with rods and sticks. Worst is there is a video which shows police allowed them safe passage.”

Govt assures action

Union Minster Prakash Javadekar, said, “We condemn the violence in JNU. This needs to be investigated. Congress, Communists, AAP and some elements want to create environment of violence in universities across the country.”

Also read: FIR filed in JNU case, crime branch to probe violence; univ officials meet L-G

Pointing out that universities should not be turned into hubs of politics, Smriti Irani said, “Investigation has begun, so will not be right to speak on it now. But universities should not be turned into hubs of politics, neither should students be used as political pawns.”

On Monday, students were leaving the campus after a violence broke out, “People came from outside, armed with sticks and rods. Situation is grim in the University. So, I am leaving the campus for now,” ANI quoted a student as saying.

Protests erupt across the nation

Various people have come forward, raising their voice against the attack on JNU students. National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) will hold a protest at Arts Faculty, North Campus in Delhi University at 2 pm on Monday (January 6).

Also read: JNU VC Jagadesh Kumar appeals to students to maintain peace

Similarly, Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU) activists protested in Osmania University, in Hyderabad.

In Karnataka, protests were held at Town Hall in Bengaluru against yesterday’s chaos.

Students from various colleges in Mumbai, continued to protest outside Gateway of India against the anarchy. Actor Sushant Singh also joined the students. Students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) held a candlelight protest against the brutality yesterday.

(With inputs from agencies)