Cong accuses BJP of curbing students' voice

Congress today lambasted BJP over handling of the JNU controversy, accusing it of "curbing" students' voice but asserted that debates on campuses cannot be hijacked by anti-India sentiments.
Claiming a pattern in the government's role in the issues concerning FTII, IIT Madras, Hyderabad Central University (HCU), it asked BJP to stop branding JNU as anti-national and raised questions over the NDA dispensation's "capacity to tolerate a different point of view".
"FTII, IIT Madras and Hyderabad Central University proves BJP curbing students voice. Is police action in JNU a desperate attempt to perpetuate it?
"Take action against those guilty but isn't BJP using Delhi Police for it's anti-JNU tirade. Proud of JNU, Stop branding it anti-National," Congress communication department chief Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter.

In another tweet, he said, "Debate & discussion is essence of our democracy but it can't be hijacked by anti-India sentiments, whether on University campus or outside."
Former Law Minister Kapil Sibal demanded similar action against the BJP MPs, who give such anti-national statements.

Another party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, a noted lawyer, said merely saying something does not fall in the category of sedition, unless it is backed by some action.
Addressing the media from the AICC podium, Singhvi also alleged that not only workers but MLAs, MPs and Ministers of BJP have made "similar shocking divisive anti-national statements".
He, however, caveated his response saying if anybody has committed any crime under the Indian Penal Code, action has to be taken against him.

"Congress is in the front row wherever there is an issue of implementing law. We cannot support any anti-national act. If any particular person has done something like this, action will be taken but you cannot brand an entire institution anti- national and try to demolish all other student bodies on the complaint of ABVP," he said.
Asserting that a context would be seen if it happens immediately after HCU, Singhvi said the issue is about the "capacity to tolerate a different point of view".
"What has been done is an attempt to paint the entire University anti-national," he said.

A group of students on Tuesday held an event on the JNU campus and allegedly shouted slogans against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in 2013.
JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested today in this connection after a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy was lodged into the matter.