Was Jaitley leading 'Alliance of Subversion' as DUSU Prez: Chidambaram

Amidst a row in Delhi University, Congress leader P Chidambaram today asked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley whether he was heading an "alliance of subversion", as suggested by him a day earlier, when he was heading the varsity's students union in 1975.

"When Mr Jaitley was President of DUSU in 1975, was he heading an 'Alliance of Subversion'?" the former Finance and Home Minister in the UPA government tweeted.

Jaitley had said yesterday that there was an "alliance of subversion" on certain Indian campuses and that the ultra-Left and separatists were speaking the same language.

They must also allow others with different opinions to speak, he said while delivering a talk at London School of Economics.

The minister said it was his personal belief that "free speech" in society needs to be debated, adding that "violence is however not the method".

The comments came amidst the ongoing row over the clashes between Left-affiliated AISA and the RSS-backed ABVP in Delhi University's North Campus.

Tension prevailed in DU's North Campus in the wake of Wednesday's incident even as members of students' groups protested at many places, including at the Delhi Police headquarters, seeking action against the ABVP members.

Jaitley was President of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) in 1974-75.