BJP, Congress leaders in Himachal spar over JNU sedition row

BJP leaders from Himachal Pradesh criticised the Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Anand Sharma for visiting the JNU campus after its students allegedly shouted ‘anti-national’ slogans during a protest.

BJP leaders from Himachal Pradesh criticised the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and senior party leader Anand Sharma for visiting the JNU campus after its students allegedly shouted ‘anti-national’ slogans during a protest held on the death anniversary of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Security personnel escorted Congress leader Anand Sharma after ABVP students partially prevented him from leaving the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

State BJP chief Satpal Satti and other party leaders dubbed the visit of the two Congress leaders as “unfortunate and shameful”.

Demanding arrest of all those involved in the alleged raising of the slogans, they said it was a matter of grave concern that students enjoying all facilities and privileges of the country are raising anti-national slogans and speaking the language of scenarists.

Local Congress leaders, however, condemned the alleged attack on Sharma by “right-wing activists” at the university campus and termed it as “pre-planned”.

Deepak Sundriyal, spokesperson of the Shimla (Urban) Congress Committee said it was an expression of “growing frustration” among the “BJP cadres and RSS affiliated organisations”.

“Congress will not allow communal forces to vitiate then academic and free environment of not just premiere institutes like the JNU, but even other academic institutions,” Sundriyal added.