Centre run by ABVP goons: Congress

With violent protests and scuffles becoming order of the day at the Patiala House Court, the Congress on Wednesday alleged that the Centre is being run by ABVP goons.

Congress leader R P N Singh, in a statement, said that lawlessness and fear have become synonymous with Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government.

"It seems that the Government of India is being run by goons of ABVP. Lawlessness, goondaism and fear have become synonymous with the Modi Model of Governance," Singh said in the statement.

" In unprecedented acts of throwing the dictum of the Rule of Law and the Constitution to the dustbin, the goons of ABVP and Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad - lawyers associated with the BJP are beating up journalists and under trials within Court premises," he added.

He said that the prevailing situation forced the apex court to order evacuation of courts and instruct Delhi police to take action against people who are involved in hooliganism, assault and attack on journalists.

He recalled the recent incidents of violence in the court premises, and condemned the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students ' union president Kanhaiya Kumar.

"In total affront to the entire judicial system of the country, goon BJP lawyers attacked journalists within court premises. This followed by an attack on Kanhaiya Kumar, the JNUSU President under police custody," he said.

Soingh said that lawyers have played a great role in shaping this country, right from the Freedom Struggle to writing the Constitution of India and governing this country thereafter, it is indeed a shameful moment that the BJP is using them to challenge the very rule of law.

"The Indian National Congress clearly states that all those involved in anti-national activities should be tried and punished, but the Congress party also wants to reiterate that punishment cannot be meted out on the whims and fancies of the BJP and ABVP," he said.

High drama was witnessed at the Patiala House Court earlier in the day where two groups of lawyers were seen raising slogans inside the court premises and beating up each other including journalists.

Earlier, hearing the matter the apex court condemned Monday's attack on journalists in the Patiala House Court complex in connection with the JNU row.

The Supreme Court ordered Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi to ensure security to the accused and limit the number of journalists to be present inside the court room to five.