New Delhi: Trouble is mounting for Jawaharlal Nehru University students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya as a varsity high-level probe panel said that they facilitated unauthorised entry of people into the JNU.
The five-member panel constituted to probe the controversial February 9 event on JNU campus found 21 students including CPI MP D Raja's daughter guilty of violating university norms.
The panel found the duo guilty of creating disharmony and spreading divisive tendencies among students.
The panel added that the provocative slogans at the controversial event were raised by a group of outsiders and noted that it was "unfortunate" the students allowed that to happen.
According to the panel, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and Anirban addressed gathering but what they said wasn't audible to eyewitness.
It said holding of the event despite cancellation of permission was an act which amounts to "willful defiance".
The panel has also pointed out lapses on part of the university's security unit, saying it did not make any efforts to stop outsiders from shouting provocative slogans and stop them from leaving the campus. The report also said that the group of outsiders had their heads and faces covered.
"The organisers disobeyed the instructions from the administration about not holding the event. This amounts to willful defiance. It is most unfortunate that the organisers allowed the event to be taken over by a group of outsiders who created a charged atmosphere by raising provocative slogans.
"This act by outsiders has brought disrepute to the entire JNU community," the report of the five-member panel said.
There was a counter protest by ABVP students who indulged in sloganeering, the panel noted.
The panel said auditorium's booking requisition was filed by Khalid and the venue was booked for poetry event to be attended by seven people, but evidently there were many more in attendance.
"The committee also notes that none of the JNUSU office-bearers acted with due responsibility. The office-bearers had to behave with even more restraint and caution befitting the position they hold.
"They need to rise above the politics and other differences as they represent the student community. It is unbecoming of student representatives that they should be found engaging in disorderly conduct or condoning it," it added.
The committee was formed on February 10 to probe the event organised to protest hanging of Afzal Guru, the Parliament attack convict.
Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban were arrested on charges of sedition in connection with the programme. Kanhaiya was released on bail from Tihar on March 3 while Umar and Anirban are still in judicial custody.
The university had on March 11 revoked the academic suspension of eight students including Kanhaiya after completion of the probe by the five-member panel. It was decided to keep them under suspension from academic activities till the inquiry was over. However, they were allowed to stay in the hostels.
The panel, which was granted three extensions before it finally submitted its report, also faced difficulties in the probe as students refused to depose before it demanding that the inquiry be constituted afresh.
The varsity, however, turned down the demand and maintained that the students will be given three chances to appear before the disciplinary committee and, if they fail to do so, the panel will finalise its recommendations on the basis of evidence available.
The university authorities maintained that a final decision regarding the "quantum of punishment" will be taken on basis of the reply sent by students to showcause notices by Wednesday evening.
(With additional information from PTI)
Comments
0 comment