New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was among a host of political leaders and celebrities who took to Twitter to criticise the violence that erupted on the JNU campus Sunday night as masked assailants attacked students and teachers.
Kejriwal expressed “shock” and called for Delhi Police, overseen by the central government, to put an end to the violence. He also stated that he had spoken to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal about the situation.
Baijal himself condemned the violence in a tweet and said he had directed Delhi Police to take all steps necessary to restore law and order.
The violence in JNU against students and teachers is highly condemnable. Directed @DelhiPolice to take all possible steps in coordination with JNU Administration to maintain law and order & take action against the perpetrators of violence. The situation is being closely monitored
— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) January 5, 2020
Amid allegations that the attack was the handiwork of the ABVP, the student wing of the RSS, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi tore into the BJP-led central government, calling it “fascist”.
The brutal attack on JNU students & teachers by masked thugs, that has left many seriously injured, is shocking.
The fascists in control of our nation, are afraid of the voices of our brave students. Today’s violence in JNU is a reflection of that fear.
#SOSJNU pic.twitter.com/kruTzbxJFJ
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 5, 2020
The ABVP, however, blamed the attack on “Left goons”. The BJP called the attack a “desperate attempt by forces of anarchy”.
Left goons are not just against India, they are against students getting education too!
When students of JNU who wanted to resume academic activities by registering themselves, Red thugs came up with their “Dantewada Model” of disrupting communication services. #LeftAttacksJNU
— ABVP (@ABVPVoice) January 5, 2020
We strongly condemn the violence on JNU campus. This is a desperate attempt by forces of anarchy, who are determined to use students as cannon fodder, create unrest to shore up their shrinking political footprint. Universities should remain places of learning and education.
— BJP (@BJP4India) January 5, 2020
In a series of tweets, Gandhi’s fellow Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said a delegation from the party had been sent to JNU to aid the students. He also accused the BJP government of reducing students to “thuggish enforcers of the government’s writ”.
Have asked a delegation of @ProfCong Delhi to rush to JNU immediately with a lawyer & attempt to intervene with the authorities. Can't believe neither PM nor HM have condemned the violence happening on their watch in the nation's capital! @INCIndia https://t.co/GXeaGy8H2N
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 5, 2020
Is this what our country has come to? To have the ruling party reduce students to thuggish enforcers of the government's writ? Assaulting protestors w/impunity while exalted Ministerial Neros twiddle their thumbs? #StopJNUAssaultsNow https://t.co/SQOq8lIhRk
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 5, 2020
Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, too, accused the government of enabling the violence.
What we are seeing on
Live TV is shocking and horrifying. Masked men enter JNU hostels and
attack students.What is the Police doing? Where is the Police Commissioner?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 5, 2020
A delegation from the Trinamool Congress was also on its way to help the students, West Bengal Chief Minister and party chief Mamata Banerjee tweeted.
We strongly condemn brutality unleashed agst students/teachers in JNU. No words enough to describe such heinous acts. A shame on our democracy. Trinamool delegation led by Dinesh Trivedi (SajdaAhmed, ManasBhunia, VivekGupta) headed to DEL to show solidarity with #ShaheenBagh #JNU
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 5, 2020
Union minister S. Jaishankar, an alumnus of JNU, said he condemned the violence unequivocally”.
Have seen pictures of what is happening in #JNU. Condemn the violence unequivocally. This is completely against the tradition and culture of the university.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 5, 2020
A similar message came from fellow JNU alumnus and Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Horrifying images from JNU — the place I know & remember was one for fierce debates & opinions but never violence. I unequivocally condemn the events of today. This govt, regardless of what has been said the past few weeks, wants universities to be safe spaces for all students.
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) January 5, 2020
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury adopted a similar strain, blaming the ABVP for the violence and alleging that the attacks were “planned” by those in power.
Reports coming from JNU point to a collusion between the administration and goons of ABVP to inflict violence on students and teachers. It is a planned attack by those in power, which is afraid of the resistance provided by JNU to its Hindutva agenda.
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) January 5, 2020
Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav, who tried to visit JNU in the wake of the violence, tweeted that all the roads to the campus were blocked.
All roads leading to #JNU blocked by @DelhiPolice
Complete cover being provided to goons inside the campus— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) January 5, 2020
JNU vice-chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar tweeted a statement from the university administration condemning the violence and said they feel “great pain and anguish for the students who have sustained injuries”.
The JNU administration feels great pain and anguish for the students who have sustained injuries in the violence that took place in JNU campus. The JNU administration strongly condemns any form of violence in the campus. pic.twitter.com/Quk3Zc7wN0
— Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) January 5, 2020
Political commentator Sanjaya Baru tweeted that his wife, a professor at the university, had received calls from fearful students.
I don't live on campus. My wife teaches there. Her students live on campus. They have been calling in fear. This is an organised attack that alumnus like me should stand up against.
— Sanjaya Baru (@Barugaru1) January 5, 2020
Actors Swara Bhaskar and Richa Chadha also tweeted in support of JNU students.
JNU Inder attack by alleged ABVP terrorists ! Despite @DelhiPolice presence on campus!!!! Stop this terror and rampage ! Watch this video received from a student! WHAT IS DELHI POLICE DOING????? Is this a govt. sanctioned attack????? pic.twitter.com/k5tfoV67Op
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 5, 2020
This is a real shame. Teachers are being attacked ! Gurur Devo Bhava ? Tragic. The world is watching this descent into madness. https://t.co/JFWgsH3tE1
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) January 5, 2020
Also read: JNU students and teachers thrashed by lathi-wielding mob on campus, property damaged
This is an updated version of the report