New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing his concern over the recent happenings at the Jawaharlal Nehru University and sought his urgent intervention in the matter. While condemning the raising of anti-India slogans at the JNU campus, Kejriwal, in his letter, said that branding a prestigious institution sunch as the JNU as a terrorist hub was incorrect.
Kejriwal also called upon the PM to bring an end to political interference in JNU and other academic institutions. He also faulted the government for what he termed as converting nationalism into a device for creating a fear psychosis by using constitutional institutions to run them according to whims and fancies.
The Delhi CM also condemned the attack on teachers, students and journalists at a court complex in Delhi, saying that such an incident in court premises left no place to be called safe. Kejriwal further called for immediate release of innocent people arrested over the JNU event.
He has also demanded strict action against Delhi MLA O P Sharma who was seen thrashing a CPI leader outside the Patiala House court complex, saying such elements should not be allowed to give the impression that they have the support of the central government.
Here is the full text of the letter:
Sh. Narendra Modi Ji
Hon'ble Prime Minister of India
152, South Block
New Delhi
Respected Prime Minister,
I am extremely worried over some incidents that have taken place in Delhi in recent days and that is why I am writing to you.
It is being stated that some individuals raised anti-India slogans at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. If somebody residing in India indulges in anti-national activities, then this cannot be tolerated at all and there is unanimity in the country on this issue.
It is, however, not correct to arrest and victimize the innocent in the garb of this incident. Further, it is not correct to convert nationalism into a device for creating a fear psychosis by using constitutional institutions to run them according to whims and fancies.
It is extremely dangerous that the JNU incident is being portrayed to show this institution as a terrorist centre. The JNU and its students have achieved fame at the international level due to it high academic standards and the hard work of its students.
It is completely wrong to brand such a prestigious institution as a centre of terrorists.
Whatever happened at the Patiala House Court premises on Monday afternoon is highly disturbing. Some individuals thrashed journalists, students and teachers inside the court premises in the presence of Delhi Police and the police personnel merely watched when even women were not spared from being assaulted.
If such shameful incidents take place inside court premises, then where will the citizens be safe?
Front pages of almost all newspapers on Tuesday have published the photograph of BJP MLA OP Sharma beating up a youth in full public view outside the court premises. His statement that if he had a gun he would have shot such people has also been published.
If such incidents are not brought to an immediate end, I am afraid it might be too late then.
I humbly request you to take the following steps immediately :
1) Immediate action be taken against lumpen and anarchist elements such as OP Sharma to give a clear signal that such kind of activities will not be tolerated. He is an MLA of the BJP and it must also take action against him. I feel even if you once call this MLA and scold him, he will not dare to repeat his actions again in life. If that is not done, then such elements feel they have the complete support of the central government. Nobody can be allowed to take the law in their hands and if public representatives, who swear in the name of the Constitution do so, then the country is headed towards a serious crisis.
2) Innocents arrested in the JNU incident should be immediately released, real culprits should be identified and they should be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.
3) Political interference in JNU and other academic institutions must be immediately stopped, educational institutions should be left to the academicians to manage.
4) The police administration of Delhi is directly under the control of the central government and the JNU incident shows, it appears to have miserably failed. I request you to give strict instructions so that the confidence of the people of Delhi on the Police can be restored.
I request you with folded hands to urgently stop this fire from spreading any further. People are waiting with desperation for you to break your silence and intervene to bring the situation under control.
In case you take the steps mentioned above, I am fully confident that the entire country will appreciate it and all political parties will cooperate with you on this issue.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Arvind Kejriwal
