JNU teachers to join strike, varsity condemns attack in court

JNU today condemned the attack on its teachers in Patiala house court where the varsity's students union president was to be produced in a sedition case even as the university's teaching community decided to join the students strike against the administration from tomorrow.
"We condemn the attack on the teachers. Let the law take its course. Any sort of violent activity against anybody is condemnable," JNU Registrar Bhupinder Zutshi said.
The standoff escalated today between JNU administration and the students over arrest of the varsity's students union president Kanhaiya Kumar on sedition charges, with the students going on strike till he is released.

While the varsity's teachers had yesterday rallied behind its protesting students and questioned the administration's decision to allow the police crackdown in the campus even as they appealed to the public not to "brand" the institution as "anti-national", they did not join the students in boycotting the classes today.
"The JNU teachers association in an emergent meeting held today decided to join the students' strike from tomorrow. The administration needs to answer how it plans to mend the damage done due to mishandling of the issue by it," JNUTA president Ajay Patnaik said.
The teachers who were allegedly attacked by a group of lawyers in premises of Patiala High Court also condemned the act.

"We had gone there to attend the proceedings. A group of lawyers started yelling at us that the teachers are also anti-nationalists...We did not hit back because we do not believe in violence. We do not follow nationalism of Nathuram Godse but of Gandhi," said Rohith Azad, faculty who was among those attacked.

Nivedita Menon, faculty school of international sciences said, "the attack on teachers today is a clear indication how government is running the country. The lawyers who have taken oath of law are indulging in such fascist activities. Intimidate and deceive is RSS' policy. The moment Modi came to power, RSS has always been demanding that JNU to shutdown. Why are they threatened from us ?"

JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested last week in connection with a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy registered over holding of the event at the varsity during which anti-India slogans were alleged to have been raised.
His arrest has triggered widespread outrage among students and teachers and drawn severe criticism from non-BJP political parties.