Attacking Delhi Police over its inaction when journalists and JNU students were being thrashed in the court complex, AAP dubbed them “deaf and dumb”, and asked why no action was taken against BJP MLA O P Sharma for his alleged involvement in the assault. Meanwhile Delhi Police assured the court that adequate security arrangements were made for the upcoming hearing.
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Journalists from different organisations marched to the Supreme Court yesterday in protest against the mob violence outside the Patiala House court where lawyers and politicians were seen beating up scribes and students.
“Continuing their efforts to seek the release of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students” Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar, arrested on charges of sedition, some students and teachers of JNU Tuesday chose to launch their campaign on social media.
Jaiprakash has also sought directions for that “proper and appropriate action” was taken against any person who was involved in obstructing the proceedings against Kanhaiya Kumar before the court in any manner.
The group of lawyers also threatened the supporters with dire consequences.
The Centre and Delhi Police have come under massive criticism from politicians, intellectuals, students and others for their handling of the sedition charges against Kumar, followed the attack on the media.
His arrest has reignited a row over freedom of expression in India, where some rights campaigners say the Hindu nationalist government is using the British-era sedition law to clamp down on dissent. Groups of lawyers attacked journalists, students and teachers of JNU and unidentified people in and outside the court dubbing them as anti-nationals.
Tensions erupted at the university after students organized an event last week to protest the hanging in 2013 of Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri separatist convicted of a 2001 terrorist attack on India’s Parliament.
The officials, quoted by news agency, also said that the anti-India slogans were raised by students belonging to Democratic Students Union (DSU), considered to be a front of CPI (Maoists).
“Anyone who is indulging in slogan shouting which tends to impact the integrity of our nation and can excite others to lead to the breakdown of public order are required to be brought before the court for dispensation of justice in the matter”, Bassi said. “It is an incident of February 9”.
Police have also registered sedition cases against another five students who they say attended the rally, but have been unable to track them down.
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But union minister Rajnath Singh still strictly said that, LeT backed the JNU protests and the police was investigating the LeT’s role in the protests.
