The row over the 'anti-national' activities in the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi took a new twist on Sunday with Home Minister Rajnath Singh alleging that the Afzal Guru event held on the campus on Tuesday had the support of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed.
"What happened at JNU was fully supported by Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed. I appeal all political parties that whenever such situations arise where anti-India slogans are raised, the entire nation must speak in one voice," Rajnath said.
The JNU has been at the centre of a political storm ever since a few students organised a controversial event to commemorate Afzal Guru, who was hanged in 2013 after being convicted in the Parliament attack case. Video reports showed some students raising anti-India slogans during the event.
"Never should have something been done which puts a question mark over the country's sovereignty and integrity. On such occasions, the entire country should be speaking in one voice. I would also appeal all political parties not to view such episodes through the prism of political gains and losses," said the home minister.
Responding to questions on the arrest of JNU Student's Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and allegations that he may have been falsely implicated, Rajnath said, "we should allow the investigation to take place unhindered. The police must have acted on the basis of some evidence."
Kumar was arrested on sedition charges by the Delhi police after protests from the right-wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Meanwhile, a high-level inquiry committee appointed by the university recommended the debarring of eight students, including Kumar. The three-member panel found that prima facie the students engaged in 'objectionable sloganeering' during the event on February 9.
The arrest of Kumar has sparked off a political slugfest with Congress and Left parties accusing the Modi government of muzzling dissent on the campus. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had visited the campus on Saturday.
(With inputs from agencies)
