"It was not our decision, not a suo moto decision. There was a request from the NIT authorities and hence the decision was taken to deploy central forces in the campus. It was not a unilateral decision of the central government," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said.
Rijiju's remarks during Question Hour came after Congress chief whip Jyotiraditya Scindia alleged that by deploying the central forces in the NIT campus, the central government had undermined the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Scindia accused the Jammu and Kashmir Police of "brutally" attacking the protesting students of NIT, claiming that they resorted to lathicharge on those students who were shouting slogans like 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.
The Congress leader's comments invited strong protests from treasury benches, particularly from BJP MP and former Union Home Secretary R K Singh, who said Jammu and Kashmir Police is known for its sacrifices for the country's unity and integrity and such comments are unwarranted.
He said three companies of paramilitary personnel were deployed inside the NIT campus while outside is being guarded by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
AIMIM member Asaduddin Owaisi also disapproved of
Scidia's comments saying 3,000 personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police have laid down their lives serving the nation.
Owaisi said after deployment of central forces, there was a perception that non-locals can be protected only by central forces, which was not good.
Rijiju said the reports of HRD Ministry's fact-finding team, Jammu and Kashmir government-appointed Magisterial Inquiry and an internal committee were yet to come and action will be taken as per their recommendations.
Intervening in the debate, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said when the non-local students had requested to go home, the state government made all arrangements and many of them now have returned to the campus.
Singh said those students who missed their examination will now be given opportunity to appear in the tests between May 26-29.
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