NewDelhi: JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar on Tuesday said that he has been issued a show-cause notice by a high-level committee of JNU, but it has no mention of rustication.
Speaking to media, Kanhaiya said, “I have been issued a show-cause notice which doesn’t have any mention of rustication. I have been asked to respond by 5:00 pm on Wednesday.
Kanhaiya also said that he will join an ‘azaadi’ protest march on Tuesday for voicing their demands, including resignation of HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
Meanwhile, posters demanding release of Anirban Bhattacharya and Umar Khalid were seen in JNU campus.
Earlier, reports said that a high-level committee of JNU recommended rustication of Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and two other students for their alleged role in a controversial event last month at which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.
The committee was formed on February 10 to probe the event organised to protest hanging of Afzal Guru, the Parliament attack convict. Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban were arrested on charges of sedition in connection with the programme. Kanhaiya was released on bail from Tihar on March 3 while Umar and Anirban are still in judicial custody.
The university had on March 11 revoked the academic suspension of eight students including Kanhaiya after completion of the probe by the five-member panel. It was decided to keep them under suspension from academic activities till the inquiry was over. However, they were allowed to stay in the hostels.
The panel, which was granted three extensions before it finally submitted its report, also faced difficulties in the probe as students refused to depose before it demanding that the enquiry be constituted afresh.
The varsity, however, turned down the demand and maintained that the students will be given three chances to appear before the disciplinary committee and, if they fail to do so, the committee will finalise its recommendations on the basis of evidence available, eyewitness accounts, students’ deposition, if any, and other material available on hand.
(With PTI inputs)