Academicians, lawyers march against ‘anti-national’ event on campus

Temples of education like JNU cannot be allowed to be used to support terrorists. Sloganeering and shouting was not one such incident. There should be a thorough probe into the nexus of pro-separatists elements in Kashmir and Pakistan, says a member of GIA

Urging the government to take action against those who had shouted anti-India slogans in Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Afzal Guru event at Press Club, a group of academicians, lawyers and scientists met Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday.

New Delhi: Members of Group of Intellectuals and Academicians staging a protest march against recent incidents of alleged anti-national activities in JNU and Press Club of India, in New Delhi on Monday. (PTI)

They submitted a memorandum to Singh seeking strict action against those who had raised anti-national slogans in JNU.

Home Ministry sources said Singh gave them a patient hearing and assured them their demands will be examined.

Asserting that separatist and Naxalite elements are using JNU as a platform for their activity, the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA) marched from the Constitution Club to the Press Club of India.

“Temples of education like JNU cannot be allowed to be used to support terrorists. Sloganeering and shouting was not one such incident. It was only the tip of the iceberg. There should be a thorough probe into the nexus of pro-separatists elements in Kashmir and Pakistan,” said Monika Arora, Supreme Court lawyer and member of GIA.

The members said that the fight is not about the confrontation between the left and right organizations but about the integration of the country.

“We are not fighting for the closure of JNU but all that we are saying is that the campus is being used as a platform by some separatists. So we are demanding a proper probe in the matter,” said Inder Mohan Kapahy, member of University Grants Commission (UGC).

The members also demanded a probe into the pro-Afzal Guru event that took place at the Press Club of India.

The group submitted a memorandum to the president of Press Club and demanded that action be taken against those who helped in holding the event.