Rahul says government trying to crush the voice of students

Gandhi drew comparisons with the Hyderabad university controversy involving students owing allegiance to ABVP and Ambedkar Student Association and the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohit Vemula following his suspension from the university.

Gandhi said the government was terrified of poor Indians raising their voices against it.

Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, “Male policemen can’t raid girls’ hostels in the name of anti-national activities”. Later, a Minister turns around and says he was not even a Dalit. “The most anti-national people are the people who are suppressing the voice of this institution”, Gandhi told students. “We also respect what is raised behind our back”, he said. They do not understand that by crushing you they are making you stronger.

“Modi Govt & ABVP bullying an institution like JNU simply because it won’t toe their line is completely condemnable”, he said.

“While Anti-India sentiment is unquestionably unacceptable, the right to dissent & debate is an essential ingredient of democracy”, the Congress Vice President tweeted. Citing slogans such as “Bharat Ki Barbadi Tak Jung Jari Rahegi” (We will fight India till it is destroyed), which were reportedly raised during an event inside JNU campus on February 9 against the hanging of Afzal Guru, Mr Trivedi described it as the “same language” and “same words”, which terrorists like 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafeez Sayeed use against the nation.

“We do not have problem if RSS and BJP want to express their opinion”. They also said that Kumar was a nationalist but he was anti-Bharatiya Janata Party.

Gandhi was shown black flags by a group of ABVP members.

After meeting Rajnath, Yechury said,”We met the Home Minister and apprised him about the tense atmosphere in JNU at present”.

Kumar’s parents said that their son is a victim of “Hindutva politics” and that he was arrested as part of a conspiracy. Tewari insisted that “freedom of speech and expression is circumscribed by reasonable restriction”.

Left leaders met Home Minister Rajnath Singh today regarding the issue.

Gandhi and the opposition leaders also attended a meet organised by the JNUSU demanding “immediate and unconditional release of students union president, end to police raj on the campus and witch-hunting of JNU students”.