Institutions Allowed to be Tarnished by Anarchy: Shatrughan on JNU Row
NEW DELHI: Firing yet another salvo at the government, BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha today said institutions and systems of governance have been allowed to be "tarnished by anarchy and police inaction" and disapproved of slapping of sedition charges against a JNU student leader.
Sinha, who has often taken a position at variance with the party's stand, yesterday came out in support of arrested JNU student union leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who is facing sedition charges, and called for his release soon.
The MP from Patna Sahib today said inaction by police against assualt by some lawyers at a court complex presented a "very poor image" which could have been avoided.
"I am proud of being an Indian, I love and deeply respect my motherland, l have tremendous faith in our Constitution and have great regard for our dashing, dynamic, action hero Prime Minister.
"I also assure everyone that BJP is my first and last party. I am, however, saddened that institutions and systems of governance have been allowed to be tarnished by anarchy and police inaction," Sinha tweeted.
As the JNU row escalated, he said pressing of "very serious sedition charges against students, for what might often be overenthusiastic activism in campus, reflected a highly ineffective university administration and overzealous police action".
JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar has been charged with sedition for allegedly making anti-India remarks at an event organized by a Leftist student union last week at the varsity campus. There has been widespread outrage against the police action.
"Have heard transcript of speech of Kanhaiya, our Bihar boy president of JNUSU. He has said nothing anti-national or against Constitution," Sinha yesterday wrote on Twitter, the platform which he uses frequently to launch attacks against his party.
The MP today said only the courts have the wisdom to decide whether one is guilty or not guilty of something as serious as sedition.
"I firmly believe that any anti-national activity has to be dealt with very firmly. I also believe innocents must be saved and spared," he said.
He further said the "behaviour of some lawyers friends and inaction of some apparently helpless police personnel presented a very poor image and did not show our government in good light. Wish it could have been avoided."