Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 18:National Conference (NC) patron and former Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, today said that the thrashing of Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU) student leader, Kanhaiya Kumar and journalists at Patiala House court by lawyers is an attack on Indian democracy.
“What they did in Patiala House court, I feel it is an attack on Indian democracy”, Abdullah told reporters here.
On the JNU episode and the subsequent police action, the NC leader said: “I do not understand why this issue was not handled in a proper way. It was an internal issue at JNU and should have been handled by the university Vice Chancellor. Unfortunately, that did not happen and now it has become a big issue.”
“Now there is involvement of police and there was violence. There is hunt for some of the students and the president of the Union has been sent to jail. Police Commissioner said that if he applies for bail they will not contest”, said Abdullah.
The NC leader said that if someone approaches court and it is up to court to decide as it is democratic country. “The lawyers attack lawyers. It is a democratic country and if some has to go to court he has right to go to court. He will put his case before court and it is up to court to decide”, he said.
Abdullah said that an atmosphere is being created in the country where innocent people are being hounded and labeled as anti-national. “The attack by those who call themselves nationalists is an eye opener for all the right-thinking individuals in the country. An atmosphere is being created where innocent people are being hounded and labelled anti-nationals”, he said.
“Attack on journalists is a physical manifestation of such an attitude and, if not checked, can result into a major controversy. Besides, it can have serious repercussions on India’s global image,” the former Chief Minister said.
He said the need of the hour is to stop the bad press which can be done only when “security administration puts its foot down, zeroes in on the attackers and accordingly charge sheets them.”
“Violence can never be an alternative. We have judiciary in this country and that is the best place where an argument or difference of opinion can be put forth. Taking law into our hands is wrong and therefore should not be encouraged at all,” he said.
A precedent should be made out of this incident so that people think twice before doing anything untoward like this, said Abdullah.
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