Nation won't tolerate insults on Mother India: Smriti Irani on JNU row

Irani's statement comes after Rajnath Singh asserted that strict action will be taken against the demonstators at JNU

With the Centre having taken a firm stand over the protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said that an insult to India in any form would not be tolerated by the country.

"Today is the day you worship Saraswati and the goddess blesses everyone so that the voices from their throats are directed towards the upliftment and strengthening of the nation. These voices are meant for praising India, but the nation won't tolerate any insults on Mother India," Irani told the media.

The HRD Minister's statement comes after Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that strict action will be taken against the demonstrators and said that 'anti-national' elements will not be tolerated.

"When someone is in the country and raises anti-national statements, raising questions on India's unity, diversity and sovereignty then they won't be forgiven. What happened in JNU was unfortunate and for that, I have already given the necessary instructions to the Delhi Police Commissioner," Rajnath told ANI.

Promising firm action against the demonstrators, he reiterated that anti-national statements cannot be forgiven.

"You can't raise anti-national statements while you stay in India," he added.

Earlier, the Delhi Police registered a case of sedition against the JNU students who had agitated against the hanging of Guru following complaints by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Maheish Girri and RSS's student front Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad.

Marking the death anniversary of Guru, a group of students on Tuesday held an event on the campus and shouted slogans against government for hanging him, despite varsity administration having cancelled the permission following a complaint by ABVP members, who termed the activity as "anti-national".