Left parties today targeted Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh over attack on journalists, students and teachers of JNU at a court here, saying he must explain the "dereliction of duty" on part of the police, and demanded "immediate" arrest of those responsible for it.
"The CPI(M) condemns the inaction of Delhi Police which was stationed there (at the court) in sizeable strength. The Minister and Police Commissioner (BS Bassi) must answer for this dereliction of duty.
"The CPI(M) demands immediate arrest of all those responsible for the violence," the party said in a statement.
It also claimed that from the attack and "propaganda blitz" launched by the "Sangh Parivar", it has become obvious that everything is being done in a "planned" manner.
"JNU episode is part and parcel of the ruling party's attempt to scuttle freedom of expression and curb democratic rights. They have gone to such low that country's Home Minister made baseless allegation that JNU academic community is guided and supported by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed," CPI alleged.
The communist parties demanded that JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar be released "forthwith" and charges against him be dropped.
Violence broke out in Patiala House court complex today when people in lawyers robes attacked journalists, students and teachers of JNU and in and outside the court dubbing them as anti-nationals in the wake of a raging row over the arrest of Kanhaiya.
A Delhi BJP MLA O P Sharma, who happened to be in the complex, also allegedly joined the assailants in beating up a person, identified as CPI activist Ameeque Jamai, who was taken to Tuglaq Road Police Station.
