JNU row: Govt. issues clarification, says action only against ‘anti-national’ protests

New Delhi: Maintaining that the Centre was against only a ‘handful’ of people responsible for the current state of unrest at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said that the government had problems with students protesting only when it was ‘anti-national’.

“Because of the act of some people, a reputed institute like the JNU is facing disrepute. I think that instead of condemning a mistake, trying to fix the issue is what is adding fuel to fire. We don’t believe that all the students at JNU are indulging in wrongful activities, but yes there are a handful who are the root of this problem, so that needs to be condemned ,” Naqvi told ANI.

He asserted that the slogans, which were chanted at JNU against the hanging of Afzal Guru, were in no way the works of the people with ‘nationalist’ mindset.

“We don’t have any objection to students raising their voice and protesting, but the reason behind it is important. If an anti-national activity has happened and action is being taken against it and someone protests against it then it is unfortunate,” Naqvi said.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju called for no obstruction in the investigation that is underway over the JNU campus row.

“Extreme leftist minded people will keep talking drivel against the nation, but the police should be allowed to continue with the investigation and there should be no obstruction,” Rijiju told the media here.

Meanwhile, JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who has been arrested and charged with sedition for allegedly raising anti-India slogans, will be produced before a Delhi court today as his three-day police remand ends.

Kumar was arrested on Friday allegedly for raising anti-India slogans at an event organised by students on the JNU campus to commemorate the death of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, who was executed in 2013.

He was sent to three-day police custody after the Delhi Police told the court that they wanted to probe his alleged links to ‘terrorist groups’.

Kumar was arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy and sedition under Sections 124A and 120B of the Indian Penal Code. (ANI)