Intensify protests over missing student: Delhi CM Kejriwal at JNU

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal urged students of Delhi’s Jawharlal Nehru University on Thursday to take their protest over a missing student to India Gate to spur the government into action.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal urged students of the Jawharlal Nehru University on Thursday to take their protest over a missing student to India Gate to spur the government into action.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses students at JNU campus on Thursday.(Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

“Najeeb (Ahmed) will come back only with the help of people’s power. I appeal to all of you that we will have to take this movement out of JNU campus and bring it into the mainstream,” he told students at the JNU.

“Let’s sit at India Gate and appeal to the entire country to fight for Najeeb,” Kejriwal said, addressing students at the JNU. “I am with you and will join you in the protest.”

An MSc biotechnology student at JNU, Najeeb went missing on the night of October 14-15 after allegedly being beaten up by a mob of 20 students, who had gone campaigning to his room in connection with hostel elections.

His attackers were said to be from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which is affiliated to the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Police say they are doing their best to locate Najeeb but his family and fellow students have accused the authorities of inaction.

“The day Modiji realises that the vote of youths is slipping away, Najeeb will come back,” the Aam Aadmi Party leader said to a huge round of applause from the students.

He also accused the BJP of polarising the society.

“The BJP wants the society to be divided into Hindus and Muslims. We will have to tell people that they (BJP) are not loyal to anyone be it Hindu or Muslim,” Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal, who this week met Najeeb’s mother, said he wrote to Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the missing student and promised to meet President Pranab Mukherjee too.

“The message is very clear. Whoever raises voice against the BJP will either be killed or disappear. None of you are doing a favour by fighting for Najeeb.”