Ramjas clashes: Court asks Delhi Police to file report on action taken

Members of the ABVP, Left-wing student outfits and Ramjas students had clased on Delhi University campus on February 22, after the disruption of a literary festival at Ramjas by the ABVP over an invite to JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid.

A local court on Monday directed the Delhi Police to file an action taken report in the clashes at Delhi University’s Ramjas College.

Clashes erupted on DU campus after ABVP members disrupted a literary event at Ramjas College where JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid had been invited to speak. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

The Tees Hazari court in Delhi was hearing a plea filed by Vivek Garg, an advocate who demanded that FIRs be lodged against those who allegedly raised anti-national slogans on February 21 at Ramjas College over the cancellation of a literary event where JNU student Umar Khalid was invited.

Some ABVP members, objecting to the invitation to JNU students, disrupted the event. On February 22, when Ramjas students and members of some Left-leaning student outfits were taking out a march against the disruption, members of ABVP clashed with them.

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The court reserved March 30 as the next date of hearing in the case where the police will have to submit the report .

In the last hearing on February 28, the court had chastised the petitioner Garg, saying: “It’s all between students. Why are you entering into it?”

“If you are so agitated with these words and slogans, why are you again saying them in the open court? Is it expected from you to reiterate such issues and saying these things in the open court,” Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Satish Kumar Arora had told Garg, a lawyer.

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When Garg made submissions by detailing the allegations of alleged anti-national slogans being raised on the campus, the court said it was not expected of him to reiterate such words in the open court. When the counsel said the complaint was in national interest, the court remarked, “Delaying judicial process is also not in national interest.”

During the hearing, Garg said it was a serious matter as anti-national slogans were raised at Ramjas College allegedly by members of students groups AISA and SFI and a similar incident had taken place in JNU last year which had a massive impact on the nation.

Garg’s complaint states that “massive anti-national slogans/ activities were being carried out by leaders/ students of All India Students Association(AISA)/ Students’ Federation of India (SFI) in Ramjas College, shamelessly and openly which supported India’s enemy i.e. Pakistan. The criminal acts of accused were also boosting morale of terrorists against our country”.