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This is an archive article published on February 16, 2016
Attack on media: Congress, Left condemn BJP ‘hooliganism’
The CPM politburo called it a “shocking incident of hooliganism indulged in by lawyers and goons owing allegiance to BJP”.
Journalists who were beaten by the lawyers outside the Patiala House court before JNUSU Kanhaiya Kumar was produced, in New Delhi on Feb 15th 2016. (Source: Express photo by Ravi Kanojia)
The Congress and Left parties on Monday condemned the attack on mediapersons and students at the Patiala House Courts here, saying it was “hooliganism unleashed by the BJP”.
“A group of people in the garb of lawyers, but were sympathisers of the BJP, thrashed JNU students who were produced in court today… The lawyers indulged in rowdyism. Outside the court, BJP MLA O P Sharma and a group of hooligans attacked students and journalists. The phones of journalists were snatched away. These people were aware that they were journalists… This hooliganism unleashed by the BJP… they may be shouting patriotic slogans… but that is totally to misguide the people. The hooligans were led by a BJP MLA,” Congress spokesperson P C Chacko said.
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“The BJP and RSS cannot tolerate anything that opposes their ideology. They attacked the CPM office yesterday. They attacked journalists and students in court today. Courts are supposed to be the guarantor of law. This is happening even inside the court and the BJP president is giving us sermons. We don’t want any lesson on patriotism from Amit Shah and the BJP,” he added.
The Congress, he said, had demanded action against those who had raised “anti-India slogans” but said that does mean the BJP and the RSS can stifle the voice of independent students and freedom of expression.
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The CPM politburo called it a “shocking incident of hooliganism indulged in by lawyers and goons owing allegiance to the BJP”.
“Teachers and students of the JNU and journalists were physically assaulted and driven out of the court. Several people suffered injuries….The CPM condemns the inaction of the Delhi Police, which was stationed there in sizeable strength. The Union Home Minister and Delhi Police Commissioner must answer for this dereliction of duty,” it said.
The party also demanded immediate arrest of all those responsible for the violence and attacks in the court premises.
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The CPI said it was “Sangh Parivar goons (who) attacked professors, youth and students who had gathered near the court to express solidarity with JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar who was to be brought to the court today”.
“While activists of ABVP and Sangh Parivar outfits were brutally attacking students and teachers from JNU, police remained mute spectator… From this attack and the propaganda blitz launched by Sangh Parivar terming everybody including mediapersons anti-national, it is obvious everything is being done in a planned manner under the Modi government’s patronage and support,” the CPI Central Secretariat said.
It said the “JNU episode is part and parcel of the ruling party’s attempt to scuttle freedom of expression and curb democratic rights”.
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