Protests erupt over attack on JNU students, teachers

Tribune News Service

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Bathinda, January 6

Braving rain and cold weather, a large number of members of Left parties and farm unions staged a protest and burnt an effigy of the Union Government to express their resentment over Sunday’s attack on students and teachers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), in Mansa on Monday. The protesters also condemned alleged attack on the national president of Swaraj India, Yogendra Yadav, who visited the JNU on Sunday.

Members of the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI) and various farm union members took part in the protest and demanded resignation of the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah.

Hardev Singh, member of the national council of the CPI and former legislator, said: “The union government has resorted to unfair means to suppress voice of dissent. The attack on JNU students and teachers by masked miscreants is a deplorable act. They were attacked as they have been the voice of protest over the Constitution Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in various parts of the country.”

The protesters also raised questions on the functioning of the Delhi Police. Krishan Chauhan, secretary of the CPI, said: “Yogendra Yadav is the national convener of Taalmel Committee, which represents over 250 farm unions. An assault on him raises serious questions over the functioning of the administrative machinery and the police.”

The protesters stated that they would give a befitting reply by participating in a nation-wide ‘bandh’ call on January 8. They also raised questions on the JNU authorities.

Kulwinder Singh, secretary of the CPM, said: “JNU students have raised their voice not only over academic issues such as increased fees, anti-education friendly policies, but the CAA and the NRC as well. The attack on these students is a deplorable act and raises questions regarding safety of students studying in various academic institutions in the country.”

Meanwhile in Bathinda, members of the Nagrik Ekta Manch, the Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), the Krantikari Naujawan Sabha and the Punjab Students’ Union staged a protest over the attack on students and teachers of the JNU, at Fire Brigade Chowk here in the city on Monday.

Rain failed to play a dampener for them as they swarmed to the venue of protest in droves and raised slogans against the Union Government. The protesters condemned the attack and demanded that perpetrators must be brought to justice.

Members of the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) also condemned the attack and demanded speedy justice and immediate arrest of culprits. The union president, Resham Singh, said: “Such attacks in academic institutions are against the core values of democracy. It is at these institutions that future leaders take shape. The atmosphere today has become unsafe for students.”

Health and human rights activist Dr Vitull K Gupta also condemned the attack. Dr Vitull said the Delhi police failed to act in time, leading to serious injuries to students and teachers. This was a larger conspiracy to suppress the students’ voice and nothing was going to come out from inquiry because from the beginning, the police have registered cross-FIR, Dr Vitull said.