 "JNU row: Students to march to Parliament demanding Kanhaiya Kumar's release")
Stepping up their agitation against the arrest of JNU Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and two others in a sedition case, the students will march to Parliament today demanding the release of those jailed in the case.
"We are going to hold a solidarity march to Parliament tomorrow to protest the stifling of dissent in JNU, Hyderabad university and elsewhere through sedition charges," JNUSU Vice President Shehla Rashid Shora said yesterday.
The protest march which will be joined by academicians and students from various universities across Delhi, will begin from Mandi House area at 2 p.m today.
"We want to take up our issues with the PMO, MHRD and the Home Minister. We will also be approaching the NHRC and the Minority Commission to register our concerns at the functioning of the Delhi Police and the continuing threats of physical violence against Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban," she added.
The students have been agitating on campus ever since Kanhaiya was arrested in a sedition case in connection with the organisation of an event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Following Kanhaiya's arrest- five students who were being searched by police in the case- Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Ashutosh Kumar, Anant Prakash and Rama Naga- had gone into hiding fearing "mob-lynching".
They resurfaced back on campus 10 days later. While Umar and Anirban surrendered before the police, the remaining three refused to do so but maintained that they are open to questioning by police as and when needed.
"Our major demands include release of the three students, revoking sedition charges and the varsity suspension order," Shehla said.
The students are also demanding resignation of HRD Minister Smriti Irani allegeing that she "misused powers" and "peddled lies" regarding the row at JNU and Hyderabad University where a dalit scholar -Rohith Vemula- was found hanging in a hostel room.
"We want the government to enact a 'Rohith Act' to end caste based discrimination in universities and educational institutions," she added.
Meanwhile, Left-backed All India Students Association (AISA) alleged that some of its activists were attacked in Delhi University's Satyawati college when they went to paste posters of the march.
"Two activists were seriously injured when few 'goons' stopped them from pasting the posters and attacked them when they tried to resist," AISA said in a statement.
"We are going to hold a solidarity march to Parliament tomorrow to protest the stifling of dissent in JNU, Hyderabad university and elsewhere through sedition charges," JNUSU Vice President Shehla Rashid Shora said yesterday.
Read more from our special coverage on "JNU ROW"
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- Mahishasur event: JNU registrar authenticates documents Smriti Irani quoted from
- Jail or bail for Kanhaiya Kumar: Delhi HC to decide today
- JNU row: Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya sent to 14-day judicial custody
- JNU row: It takes Rs 100 to organise any event at the university, say students
The protest march which will be joined by academicians and students from various universities across Delhi, will begin from Mandi House area at 2 p.m today.
"We want to take up our issues with the PMO, MHRD and the Home Minister. We will also be approaching the NHRC and the Minority Commission to register our concerns at the functioning of the Delhi Police and the continuing threats of physical violence against Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban," she added.
The students have been agitating on campus ever since Kanhaiya was arrested in a sedition case in connection with the organisation of an event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Following Kanhaiya's arrest- five students who were being searched by police in the case- Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Ashutosh Kumar, Anant Prakash and Rama Naga- had gone into hiding fearing "mob-lynching".
They resurfaced back on campus 10 days later. While Umar and Anirban surrendered before the police, the remaining three refused to do so but maintained that they are open to questioning by police as and when needed.
"Our major demands include release of the three students, revoking sedition charges and the varsity suspension order," Shehla said.
The students are also demanding resignation of HRD Minister Smriti Irani allegeing that she "misused powers" and "peddled lies" regarding the row at JNU and Hyderabad University where a dalit scholar -Rohith Vemula- was found hanging in a hostel room.
"We want the government to enact a 'Rohith Act' to end caste based discrimination in universities and educational institutions," she added.
Meanwhile, Left-backed All India Students Association (AISA) alleged that some of its activists were attacked in Delhi University's Satyawati college when they went to paste posters of the march.
"Two activists were seriously injured when few 'goons' stopped them from pasting the posters and attacked them when they tried to resist," AISA said in a statement.