Cong claims atrocities in Srinagar institute; Govt, Owaisi reject contention
With the Congress raising the issue of “police atrocities” on the NIT campus in Srinagar and deployment of central forces, the government, while rejecting the accusation, claimed that a decision on sending paramilitary personnel was done after receiving requests from the state government and NIT authorities.
Accusing the Jammu and Kashmir Police of acting “brutally” against the protesting students of the NIT during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia claimed that they had resorted to a lathicharge on those students who were raising slogans like “Bharat Mata ki jai”.
Before Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju could respond to the accusation, the House witnessed strong protests from Treasury benches, particularly BJP MP and former Union Home Secretary RK Singh. Singh said the J&K Police were known for sacrifices for the country’s unity and integrity and such comments would have a demoralising impact on the force.
As the members continued charges and counter-charges on the issue, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) member Asaduddin Owaisi came in support of the government and the BJP MP’s contention by disapproving Scindia’s contention. He said 3,000 personnel of the J&K Police had laid down their lives serving the nation.
He, however, contended that only after deployment of central forces was there a perception that non-locals could be protected, which was not good. “Alienation of the youth has been increasing and if we do not take action to stop it, there will be problems,” he added.
Responding to Scindia’s question, Rijiju said, “It was not our decision, not a suo moto decision. There was a request from the state government and NIT authorities and hence, the decision was taken to deploy central forces on the campus. It was not a unilateral decision of the central government.”
Supplementing his deputy through an intervention, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said when non-local students had requested to go home, the state government made all arrangements and many of them had returned to the campus now. He said those students who had missed their examinations would now be given an opportunity to appear in the tests between May 26 and 29.
The NIT in Srinagar had witnessed clashes between local and outstation students after India lost to the West Indies in the World T20 semifinal match on March 31, following which paramilitary forces were deployed on the campus.
