Centre seeks report over ruckus

New Delhi: The Union government on Thursday sought a report from Delhi University over the ruckus that took place at Ramjas College on Wednesday, which left many injured.

“I have asked for a report from the university on the issue,” Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said. However, earlier in the day, Mr Javadekar had ruled out Centre’s intervention, saying the “university is an autonomous institution and the police will take required action”.

While answering a query about law and order situation on the campus, he had said, “How can we intervene? They are an autonomous university. The police will investigate and take required action. Nobody neither the university, college administration nor the students’ approached us for help so far.”

Ramjas College had turned into a battleground on Wednesday as students of Left-affiliated AISA and the RSS-backed ABVP allegedly attacked each other with stones and hockey sticks. A few policemen and journalists were also roughed up during the violence after students from DU and JNU gathered outside the college to hold a protest march against ABVP’s threat to call off the seminar.

Meanwhile, Union minister Kiren Rijiju also said freedom of expression in the country does not give right to make college campuses hub of anti-national activity.

“No anti-India slogans will be allowed in the name of freedom of speech. Freedom of expression in the country does not give anyone the right to make college campuses hub of anti-national activity,” he said.

Mr Rijiju, an alumni of Delhi University, said no one should make any statement which will harm the national interest.

“India is a democratic country. We have fundamental rights but we have fundamental duties too,” he said.