Union Minister Giriraj Singh launched a sharp attack on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Tuesday, labelling it the central hub of an "anti-India 'tukde-tukde' gang" associated with the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). His comments came in response to protests on the JNU campus a day earlier, where slogans were raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
What Triggered the Controversy?
The flashpoint for the latest controversy was a protest held on the JNU campus on Monday evening, January 5. This protest followed the Supreme Court's rejection of bail pleas for student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots case. A video from the protest went viral on social media, in which slogans could allegedly be heard, including one that translated to "the grave of Modi-Shah will be dug on JNU's soil."
However, JNU Students' Union president Aditi Mishra offered a different context. She stated that students protest every year on January 5 to condemn the violence that took place on the campus on the same day in 2020.
Strong Political Reactions Pour In
Dismissing the explanations, the firebrand BJP leader Giriraj Singh escalated his rhetoric. He accused certain political elements of turning JNU into an office for divisive forces. "People with anti-national mindsets like Rahul Gandhi, whether they belong to the RJD, TMC, or the Left parties, don't believe in the Supreme Court," Singh stated from Patna.
He went further, asserting, "Such people should be tried for treason for raising slogans in favour of Khalid Anwar and Sharjeel Imam and against PM Modi, Amit Shah." Singh warned that India will not tolerate people who have a 'Pakistan mentality' and talk about severing the strategic 'Chicken Neck' corridor (Siliguri Corridor). "They shouldn't forget that this is Narendra Modi's India of the 21st century," he added.
Alliance Partner and BJP Echo Condemnation
The condemnation was not limited to the BJP. Its alliance partner, the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), also criticized the JNU protests. JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, "No kind of anarchy can be accepted in this country." He emphasized that the Supreme Court's verdict is binding on all and that everyone should condemn such protests.
BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain joined the fray, slamming the opposition and calling the protesters "urban Naxals in the garb of students." He demanded action against those who raised slogans against the top leadership, stating that anti-national forces in JNU were insulting the country.
The incident has once again placed JNU at the centre of a heated political debate, with the ruling coalition presenting a united front against what it perceives as seditious activities on the prestigious university campus.
