Chidambaram condemns attack on JNU students, demands police accountability

Congress leader and former minister P. Chidambaram on Monday condemned the attack on students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University and demanded that the police be held accountable for the incident which happened late on Sunday.

The former home minister, addressing the media at a press conference, said Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnail must be held accountable for the attack on students inside the JNU campus. He said that the buck starts with the commissioner and stops with Home Minister Amit Shah.

He said that it was shocking and horrifying to see the live telecast of the attack on students by masked men inside the JNU campus.

Calling the attack in JNU descent into fascism, Chidambaram asked why the police commissioner did not spring into action when students were being attacked and the visuals were shown on TV. He added that such an “act of impunity can only happen with the support of the government” and that there were intelligence inputs on the attacks.

“Where is the Delhi Police commissioner, why didn't he rush to JNU when students were being attacked and shown on TV,” he said.

The Congress also called for a probe into the attack, demanding that those who were behind the attack must be identified within 24 hours and brought to justice. Terming the attack on JNU students and teachers as “state-sponsored terrorism”, the Congress blamed the BJP government demanding answers.

“Condemnation means nothing when the actions of this govt have allowed this carnage to take place. Why are the PM & HM still silent? Why did Delhi Police not take action faster? Why are violent thugs able to act with such impunity? The BJP govt must answer for #JNUAttack,” the Congress had tweeted. 

(With inputs from PTI)