Global papers rap govt's handling of JNU row

Two of the world's leading newspapers have criticised the government's approach in handling the sedition row at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

The New York Times (NYT) said in an op-ed piece: "India is in the throes of a violent clash between advocates of freedom of speech and the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its political allies on the Hindu right determined to silence dissent." It said the confrontation "raises serious concerns about Modi's governance and may further stall any progress in Parliament on economic reforms." The NYT asked Modi to rein in his ministers and his party, and defuse the current crisis, or risk sabotaging both economic progress and India's democracy.

Read more from our special coverage on "JNU ROW"

• Delhi police cites JNU inquiry findings in its report
• HC to hear plea seeking arrest of 5 JNU students
• JNU row: Delhi HC to hear Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharyas plea seeking protection
• My removal is contempt of court: Kanhaiya Kumars counsel
• Nothing to hide, nothing to worry: Venkaiah Naidu on JNU row

France's leading daily Le Monde said in an editorial "the horizon of Indian democracy has been oddly clouded" since the coming to power of Modi. The arrest of a student leader and a former professor of JNU "is the latest illustration of the authoritarian drift of the Hindu nationalist government determined to silence criticism". It was "paradoxical" to see the Hindu nationalists defend the Indian flag they have long denigrated with their preference for the saffron flag, the editorial said.

In Delhi, the Supreme Court on Monday made it clear that it would confine itself to the violence in Patiala House court complex on February 15 and 17 in which JNU students, teachers and journalists were attacked during the hearing of sedition case against JNUSU head Kanhaiya Kumar. "We are not concerned with other incidents. We are only concerned with the episode that had happened on February 15 and 17," a Bench said.

The police, meanwhile, was cautious in dealing with five students accused of sedition who returned to the campus on Sunday night. The students said they were ready to be arrested but will not surrender as charges against them were false. Delhi Police chief BS Bassi asked the students to join the investigation.

The five - Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, JNUSU General Secretary Rama Naga, Ashutosh Kumar and Anant Prakash - had gone missing from the campus since February 12 after JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on sedition charges for allegedly raising anti-India slogans during a controversial event at the campus

US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said diversity of "thought and speech" was one of India's great hallmarks which will "propel" it forward.

On the JNU incident, he said free speech was an issue that the Indian society will have to resolve, terming universities as "laboratories of thoughts" and identifying them as a "central tenet" that both India and the US hold dear. He also said that with diversity come "different viewpoints".