Pro and anti-Kanhaiya protests rock Delhi University campus

Hundreds of Delhi University (DU) students and faculty members on Saturday came out in support of JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who was arrested last week after an event on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus in which allegedly anti-India slogans were raised. Participants, staging a protest outside DU’s Arts Faculty on the North Campus, said they resist all attempts to criminalise JNU and its students and demand the withdrawal of sedition charges against Mr Kanhaiya Kumar and his immediate release.

The meeting took place amidst opposition from nearly a dozen ABVP members who shouted slogans such as “Jo Afzal ka saath dega woh Afzal ki maut marega (Those who will support Afzal will die his death).”

The police prevented a clash between ABVP members and the protesting students, numbering a little over 100. “No person has been detained and the situation was brought under control in due time,” DCP (North) Madhur Verma said.

“The way they are demanding the release of Kanhaiya is not acceptable to us and therefore, we are here to oppose the meeting. Support for Afzal and opposing the nationalistic ethos of the country will not be tolerated,” said Delhi unit secretary of ABVP Bharat Khatana.

He said that ABVP has given a “Sansad Gherao” call on January 24 at Jantar Mantar where they will demand suspension of Members of Parliament who have supported Kanhaiya.

During the protest, Left student outfits All-India Students’ Association (AISA) of the CPI(ML), All-India Students’ Federation (AISF) of the CPI, Students’ Federation of India (SFI) of the CPI(M), and Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) were joined by leaders from Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD and Chatra Janata Dal (United). Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) also extended support to the protesters.

Prof. Saumyajit Bhattacharya of Kirori Mal College blamed the controversy on the JNU administration. “First of all the JNU administration had not given permission to the organiser of the event, and secondly they had not withdrawn once it was given. The JNU administration failed to judge the after-effect of such an event,” said Prof. Bhattacharya.

RJD national spokesperson Manoj Jha said that in the present government there is no space for dissent. “In democracy there is always a space for difference but this government is killing that space by booking innocent student on sedition charges. We oppose the government crackdown on JNU and demand the immediate release of Kanhaiya,” added Mr Jha. Protesters claimed they do not want an RSS-ABVP certificate on “our love for our country” and urged the university administration to not allow them to spread jingoism and terror in DU colleges.

“The government has shamefully tried to impress upon the citizens of the country that anyone opposing it is anti-national, especially the Left organisations that have determinedly stood for the cause of Indian citizens and against the communal, casteist and discriminatory agenda of the BJP government,” said KYC Delhi state committee member Subhash.