Jamia Teachers Association blames Union Min Anurag Thakur for firing outside varsity

Jamia Teachers Association on Friday blamed BJP MP Anurag Thakur for the firing incident outside the varsity, saying nothing can be more "anti-national" than a minister inciting citizens to indulge in violence from a public platform.

The teachers body also appealed to the protesters at Shaheen Bagh to allow passage of traffic on one side of the road as an act of "civic responsibility" and "sensitivity".

During an election rally held earlier, Thakur egged on the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan -- "shoot the traitors" -- after he lashed out at anti-CAA protesters.

On Thursday, protestors and police personnel faced off against each other near the Jamia Millia Islamia after a man fired a pistol at a group of anti-CAA protesters, injuring a student before walking away while waving the firearm over his head shouting "Yeh lo Aazadi".

"We are convinced that this shooting, which could have been fatal, was the direct result of the call to 'goli maro' or 'shoot' by an elected Member of Parliament who is also the country's Minister of State for Finance.

"Nothing can be more anti-national than a Minister inciting citizens to violence from a public platform, and we severely condemn his words and action," JTA said in a statement following a general body meeting called to discuss the situation in the varsity.

It also appreciated the restraint shown by the students after the incident.

"Given that this elected representative violated both our constitution and law by exhorting the public to violence, we acknowledge and record our appreciation of the restraint shown by our students in the face of the grave provocation of their batchmate being injured in a shooting before their very eyes.

"It is a shame and irony that the cult of the bullet continues to predominate the national discourse in the world's largest democracy," it added.

Condemning the firing, the JTA said the unprovoked firing was under the eyes of Delhi police whose men looked on casually while the bullet was fired and only one uniformed policeman walked over to gently guide the shooter away from the students.

"We also appeal to our fellow citizens at Shaheen Bagh to allow the passage of traffic on one side of the road. It would be an act of civic responsibility and sensitivity, and also a gesture of facilitation to all whose destinations would be easier to access," the JTA said.