Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Apr 6: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today categorically stated that he was opposed to the use of police force against students, whatever be the provocation or the circumstances. He said, as a matter of policy and principle, use of force against students should be avoided.
Referring to the incident of lathi charge at National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar yesterday, he said, use of police force against students should be the last resort under the most extreme circumstances and certainly never an option in situations where students are on a peaceful protest.
Speaking on the sidelines of a function, Dr Singh said, he was deeply disturbed by the turn of events at the NIT campus last evening, but was confident that the State Government, having taken due cognizance, will fix the responsibility. At the same time, he appreciated the PDP-BJP coalition Government for its positive response to the Centre’s concerns and expressed full faith in the capability of the State administration to deal with the situation.
Dr Singh said, he had personally spoken to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and shared the concern .
Assuring the State Government of full cooperation from the Centre, Dr Singh said, the Union Home Ministry is closely monitoring the state of affairs at NIT and the HRD team, which visited the NIT campus today, will work out a means to address the grievances of the students there and also ensure that they do not suffer any disadvantage in their academic career on account of the shut down of the Institute.
He also appealed to the students to exercise discretion and not allow vested elements from outside to come and fish in the troubled waters and seek political mileage.
Dr Singh said, some of the recent incidents in different Indian universities should not be left only as a sole concern of the Government but, it is for the entire society to ponder and introspect as to why, after all, a situation of strife among students should arise on the issues of nationalism or patriotism which are a part of natural legacy of every Indian.
Earlier, addressing a workers’ meeting on the eve of next phase of polling in Assam, Dr Singh disclosed that during next two days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing a series of public meetings and finally addressing his last rally in Assam at Guwahati on Friday evening where ,among others, Dr Singh himself will also be present.
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