Among those who also took part in the protest meet on JNU campus on Saturday were the Congress VP, Rahul Gandhi, the CPI-M general secretary, Sitaram Yechury and the CPI leader D Raja.
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Noting that slogans like “Pakistan zindabad”, “go India go back” and those in support of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Kashmir’s independence and India’s destruction were raised in JNU, the BJP President wondered if the Congress leader had joined hands with separatists. Taking to his blog to launch a blistering attack on the Congress leadership, especially Rahul Gandhi, Shah said that the Congress vice-president has in his blind attempts to battle the Centre lost his ability to differentiate between “anti-state and nationalism”.
Shah asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul a number of rhetorical questions. By terming anti-national activities as student revolution and describing (the) action against anti-nationals as (an) attack on freedom of speech and expression, he has shown insensitivity towards country’s unity.
“Those who killed thought process of Mahatma Gandhi and those who are inheritors of thought process of Nathu Ram Godse (who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi) need not teach the nation and the Congress new definition of patriotism”, Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here.
His visit was opposed by members of ABVP, who waved black flags when he spoke.
A day later, Gandhi visited the JNU campus and met the students who were demanding Kanhaiya’s release.
“Are you not encouraging traitors by protesting in support of these anti-nationals?”
The BJP chief said the nearest independent India came to be identified with Hitler’s Germany was when Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in 1975. The emergency not only crushed freedom of expression but the political opponents of Indira Gandhi were simply thrown into prison.
The RSS leader also attacked the Left for leading the recent “pro Afzal Guru” demonstrations on the JNU campus. “He does not say as to how many employment his government has generated”, he said, highlighting various welfare schemes of UPA regime.
“I want to ask Rahul Gandhi: Had it been in national interest if the government didn’t act and remained silent?” Delhi Police chief BS Bassi, however, denied this earlier.
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Referring to the recent deaths of army personnel, he said it was unfortunate that while soldiers sacrificed their lives on the border, anti-India slogans were raised and terrorists hailed as martyrs in an institution like JNU.
