ProMASS News Bureau: Feb 24, 2016:
Home Minister Rajnath Singh today assured the Lok Sabha that no innocent student will be harassed in connection with JNU row. Replying to a debate on the situation arising out of recent incidents in institutions of Higher education with reference to JNU and Hyderabad University, the Home Minister said freedom of speech and expression is not unbridled and anybody who breaches the limit will not be spared.
He said, police is working in an impartial manner in connection with the JNU row and there is no interference of the government in police functioning. He also condemned the violence in Patiala House Court in Delhi during hearing of sedition case against JNU Student Union President Kanhaiya Kumar. He said those indulged in violence in the court will not be spared. The Home Minister also justified his earlier statement in connection with the event organised at JNU campus on 9th of February in which anti-India slogans were raised. He said, what he had said in the matter was based on facts.
Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani attacked opposition over the issue of suicide of a Dalit student saying Rohith Vemula’s death was used a political tool which is unfortunate. She said she never asked student’s caste while addressing their issues. Referring to opposition questing her letter to Vice Chancellor, the Minister said her Ministry also responded to letters of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and TMC MP Saugata Roy and others who approached her.
She also refuted Congress Vice President allegation that NDA government is appointing RSS men as Vice Chancellors in the Universities. Ms. Irani said many VCs appointed by the UPA are still holding office. She said she has urged the VCs to listen to the concerns of all students. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu clarified that government is not branding every student of JNU as anti national. He said no one can justify the anti India slogans supporting Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Mr.Naidu said such activities will not accepted in the name of freedom of expression. He accused Congress of supporting the students involved in the incident in the name of freedom of expression. Earlier, initiating the discussion, Jyotiraditya Scindia of Congress accused the NDA government of suppressing the voice of youth. He alleged that the Central government wants to shut the prestigious Institution like JNU as the students pursuing their studies in the campus had raised their voices against the Dadri lynching incident, suicide case of dalit scholar in Hyderabad University and other issues.
Mr Scindia expressed concern that so far no action was taken against the Union Ministers for allegedly creating situations which led to suicide by dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University. Mentioning JNU incident, Mr Scindia said that the anti-India slogan allegedly raised by the eight students in the University is highly condemnable. He alleged that JNU Student’s Union President Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested without any evidence. Participating in the debate, Anurag Thakur of BJP took on the Congress for allegedly standing with such people who had organized a event in support of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru at JNU campus. He asked the Congress to clarify whether the party supports the anti -India slogan or not. Prof. Saugata Bose of TMC demanded that colonial Law of sedition should be done away with alleging that the BJP’s definition of nationalism is narrow and arrogant. He said, students should not be charged under the sedition Law on the basis of doctored video clip. During the HRD Minister’s reply, the Congress, TMC, Left and NCP staged a walkout expressing their dismay over the reply.
In the Rajya Sabha, BSP members stalled the proceedings today, demanding inclusion of a dalit member in the Judicial Commission probing the suicide death of a dalit student of the Hyderabad University. The House was adjourned finally at 4 PM after witnessing seven brief adjournments. Members belonging to Opposition and treasury benches exchanged heated arguments on the demand by BSP Chief. Raising the matter since morning on the opening day today of the Budget Session, BSP Chief Mayawati said it is a matter of serious concern. She insisted that the government should say yes or no to her demand.
Responding to this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government is ready to respond to all queries by the members only after the short-duration discussion is taken up. He said HRD Minister will reply after completion of the discussion. The agitating BSP members trooped into the well of the House several times raising slogans against the government and the HRD minister.
They insisted that the government should reply to the demand raised by their leader. Before adjourning the House, Deputy Chairman Prof. P J Kurien said the short duration discussion on the situation arising in the Central Institutions of higher education with specific reference to Jawaharlal Nehru University and University of Hyderabad, will be taken up tomorrow. Sitaram Yechury of the CPIM gave notice for the short duration discussion.
