Disapproving of slapping of sedition charges against JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, the BJP’s Patna Sahib MP Shatrughan Sinha on Thursday said institutions and systems of governance have been allowed
Disapproving of slapping of sedition charges against JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, the BJP’s Patna Sahib MP Shatrughan Sinha on Thursday said institutions and systems of governance have been allowed to be “tarnished by anarchy and police inaction”. He said Kanhaiya Kumar is a “Bihari boy” and it was his duty to defend “son of the soil from injustice”, regardless of his political affiliation.
The CPI demanded the immediate release Kanhaiya and withdrawal of the “concocted” sedition charge against him, besides sacking of Delhi police chief B.S. Bassi. The party asked the government to ensure maximum security to the student leader and action against the group of unruly lawyers.
Mr Sinha said inaction by police against assault by some lawyers at a court complex presented a “very poor image” which could have been avoided. “I am proud of being an Indian... I have great regard for our dashing, dynamic, action hero PM... I am, however, saddened that institutions and systems of governance have been allowed to be tarnished by anarchy and police inaction,” Mr Sinha tweeted.
He said pressing of “sedition charges reflected a highly ineffective university administration and overzealous police action”.
CPI general secretary S. Sudhakar Reddy and national secretary D. Raja, who met home minister Rajnath Singh, demanded the sacking of Mr Bassi for his alleged “laxity” in not ensuring adequate security cover at the Patiala House court complex for Kanhaiya Kumar and said the police officer “must not go unquestioned”.
Noting that a team of senior lawyers were also attacked in the court complex, Mr Reddy said “all this happened because of Bassi’s statement that even first day attacks were small minor scuffle which gave them the courage to attack again. Hence Bassi should be immediately relieved or even dismissed.”
Mr Reddy said they also asked the government to take action against a group of lawyers led by Vikram Singh Chauhan who had attacked on students and scribes, as well as Kanhaiya Kumar.
He alleged that Chauhan, whose photograph with the Home minister has surfaced in the media, used the snap to deter the police from taking any action against him by showing his “proximity” with the minister.
“When we pointed this out to Singh, he said he too has seen the photograph, but maintained he did not know who Chauhan was. We can understand it. But action must be taken against him,” Mr Reddy added.
