Union minister claims he has 'cure' for JNU, Jamia students

Union minister Sanjeev Balyan, an accused in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, on Wednesday (January 22) said there is only one “cure” for the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where clashes erupted during the recent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The “cure”, Balyan said at a rally in Meerut, was to set aside 10 per cent seats in the two universities for those hailing from western Uttar Pradesh. News reports suggest the crime rate in the western region of India’s largest state is relatively higher than in other parts of the state.

“I request (Defence Minister) Rajnath Singh-ji that those at JNU and Jamia, who shout anti-national slogans, there is only one cure for them. Have 10 per cent quota from western UP; everyone will be cured and nothing else will be needed,” said Balyan, the minister of state for animal husbandry, fisheries, and dairying.

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The contentious citizenship law has triggered widespread protests in multiple cities of the country. In Delhi, police were accused of using excessive force on students of Jamia Millia Islamia during a protest last month. In JNU, masked goons had unleashed terror on the campus on January 5, injuring teachers and students.

The BJP lawmaker was accused in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, during which over 60 people were killed. He was allegedly among the leaders accused of making inflammatory speeches at a ‘mahapanchayat’, following which communal clashes had erupted. However, he had denied the charges.

He is also known for his outrageous comments, which had grabbed headlines in the past. Last December, he courted controversy for claiming “children from Madrasas” were involved in the violence that erupted in UP during anti-CAA protests.

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