Left parties question arrest of JNU students' union president

New Delhi: Left parties on Friday questioned the arrest of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and asked Delhi Police to not act in “connivance” with ABVP to target “entire Left” even as they likened the ongoing developments in the varsity campus to “situations during Emergency”.

The Communist parties also condemned raising of anti-India slogans by “certain” elements and asked police to take action against those concerned in accordance with law, but not target members of students’ wings of the Left front.

“As a political party, we condemn any anti-India slogan. If law enforcing authorities want to act against those elements, let them do it in accordance with law. But in the name of taking action against such elements, they should not target entire Left students’ bodies,” CPI national secretary D Raja said.

“By targeting general students, they (ABVP) are creating a sense of terror in the campus. Delhi Police should not act in connivance with ABVP, targeting the entire Left,” he said.

He said Kumar, besides being JNUSU president, is a member of All India Students’ Federation (AISF) - students’ wing of CPI - which, he added, has a “glorious” history and had played key role in freedom movement.

“Where was the ABVP then (during freedom movement)? Kanhaiya is a JNUSU president, but he is also AISF leader. They (police) should know which organisation they are dealing with,” he said.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury also expressed concerns over the developments and said the actions against students resembled to “situations during Emergency”.

“What is happening in JNU? Police on campus, arrests and picking up students from hostels. This had last happened during Emergency,” he tweeted.

Kanhaiya was arrested on Friday in connection with a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy over holding of an event at the prestigious institute against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

PTI