Cops will take action at appropriate time: Rijiju on JNU students' arrest

With police teams waiting outside the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus for the five students, including Umar Khalid, whom the police were searching in connection with a sedition case, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said police officers looking into the matter would take a call on the situation.

"The police will take a call, and will speak to the JNU authorities. If police go directly, they will say that police have not sought permission from the university authorities. Police will take appropriate action at appropriate time, being a minister it's not good for me to give details in advance," he said.

Elaborating, Rijiju said, "Whatever appropriate action is to be taken, the senior police officers will take a call according to the situation there. If I make a very general statement here, then it will not be very useful.

"The appropriate action will be taken at appropriate time. The police officers who are looking into the matter will take a call, as there is a system and procedures that should be followed. There are authorities in JNU, and how police will take action is dependent on the situation there. If I make a speculative statement here it will not be wise," he added.

After five JNU students, including Umar Khalid, surfaced on the campus on Sunday, police teams positioned themselves outside the university and were asked to wait for the students to surrender.

When asked that Khalid had claimed that the allegations levelled against him were baseless and without evidence, Rijiju said, "We have not to do anything with what he says, the country runs by law."

Meanwhile, on Monday the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Students Union (JNUSU) submitted a memorandum to vice chancellor Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, demanding restoration of normalcy on the campus.

The associations said they wanted the situation to improve as the atmosphere is unstable. They also submitted a letter to the inquiry committee, saying the associations should be kept in the loop while making any decision.

The JNU Teachers Association said all criminal charges like criminal conspiracy, sedition should be dropped.

An internal inquiry mechanism is needed, they said, adding that police should not be allowed to enter and arrest any student.

Condemning huge damage inflicted on both public and private properties by the agitating Jats, Rijiju said all these incidents are unfortunate, but let us see that things are normalised.

"There is no point to make a general statement here. It is a big upsetting to see that a lot of things are damaged, but since the government has taken a call to constitute a committee to look into the matter, so better leave it there," he added.