Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 7: Students, political parties and social organizations condemned the NIT episode in Srinagar and demanded action against the culprits for disturbing the peaceful environment of the institution.
Large number of students from Jammu University took out a rally to lodge their protest against NIT Srinagar episode, where non-Kashmiri students were beaten-up the security personnel.
The protesting students assembled at Tawi Bridge near Dogra Chowk and blocked the vehicular movement for some time.
They demanded immediate arrest of the police personnel, who are responsible to create the terror atmosphere in NIT Srinagar.
While reacting to the NIT Srinagar issue, MLA Kathua Rajiv Jasrotia suggested that Peace Committees can be set up in which individuals belonging to different religious communities can work together to spread goodwill and fellow-feeling and remove feelings of fear and hatred in the riot-affected areas. The State has to plan and use new strategies in dealing with communal violence, he added. Demanding stern action against the fringe elements who are trying to disturb peace and communal harmony MLA appealed the people across the State not to fall prey to machinations of such forces, who are hell-bent to divide them on religious lines. He demanded Government to direct administration to take stern action against those creating disharmony and inciting hatred by circulating baseless content on social media.
While addressing a letter to Chief Minister, noted lawyer and MLA from Ramnagar Ranbir Singh Pathania has condemned the lathicharge on students at NIT Srinagar as barbaric, undemocratic and extra-constitutional. Pathania has expressed sympathy and support with the students and further requested the Chief Minister to ensure their security and their well-being while simultaneously embarking on some crash measures in order to restore their shaken faith.
Senior Congress Leaders including Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLC and Ex-Minister, Hari Singh, Former Senior Vice President, JKPCC, RS Chib, Former Minister, Ashok Sharma and Jagdish Sapolia, both Ex-MLAs, Amolak Singh and Tasaddaq Hussain, senior Congress leaders condemned the barbaric and brutal lathicharge on the non-local students of the NIT Srinagar. They demanded Judicial Enquiry to be conducted by a sitting Judge of High Court and immediate action against the police officials, responsible for their unwanted and biased act against the non-local students.
The residents of Janipur and traders held protest under the leadership of BJP leader Yash Pal Sharma and condemned the NIT episode. The protesters demanded immediate action against those, who beat-up non-local students in NIT Srinagar and action against the culprits.
As a mark of protest against the brutal lathicharge on non-local students hailing from different States in NIT Srinagar by Police, Jammu Province People Forum (JPPF) after giving a bandh call held a peaceful demonstration at Purani Mandi, Municipal Park. Addressing the demonstrators, Working President MS Katoch demanded evacuation of students besides closure of the NIT in Srinagar and shifting of the same to some other safer place. JPPF demanded immediate constitution of a Judicial Commission to probe the incident. Later, a rally was taken out by the demonstrators, which culminated at City Chowk. Besides President Pavittar Singh Bhardwaj, members of JPPF were present on the occasion.
A protest demonstration was held by the activists of Shiv Sena (Bala Sahib Thackeray) in each and every block and tehsils on the instructions of State President of the party Dimpy Kohli.
SKUAST- Teaching Association Jammu (SKUAST-TAJ) and students strongly condemned the incident of attacks on non-Kashmiri NIT students and brutal lathi charge on them by J&K police and demanded that Government should ensure the safety and security of students at any cost. SKUAST-TAJ President, Dr Vikas Sharma demanded a time bound probe into the whole matter by the sitting High Court judge.
NCP held meeting under the chairmanship of its State President and Former Minister Randhir Singh. The participants appealed to all political parties not to play with the future of the students of the country for their petty interests and restrain from issuing communal statements to destroy the secular fabric of India.
Jammu West Assembly Movement led by its President Sunil Dimple took out a “Tirang Yatra”, in protest against the brutal lathi-charge on the non-locals students at NIT Srinagar. The protesters demanded resignation from the Deputy CM Dr Nirmal Singh. Addressing the protesters, Sunil Dimple threatened to call for the Jammu bandh if culprits are not arrested within 24 hours.
All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) staged protest and blocked the road alongwith Jammu organizations against the brutalities of the police who beat-up the nationalist students for hoisting tri-colour and clashing with the anti-national elements of NIT Srinagar. The protestors demanded CBI probe and suspension of SSP and DC Srinagar besides immediate action against the police men and officers involved and foolproof security for the outsider students in NIT. The protest was led by its APMCC Chairman Vinod Pandit. King Bharati, National Spokesperson APMCC, Swami Kumar Ji, MK Yogi, President NC Minority Cell, Advocate Ravinder Raina, President ASKPC, Rakesh Koul, Former President KSD, besides many others addressed the protesters.
The activists of Hindu Shiv Sena led by its State President Krishan Singh Manhas held protest near Trikuta Complex and demanded immediate action against those, who are responsible for the NIT episode in Srinagar.
Jagjot Singh Raina, LYC Secretary, J&K condemned the NIT incident and warned the Government to take immediate steps so that the students don’t get demoralised.
National President of Hindu Sena Vishnu Gupta during a press conference here warned the Government to fulfill the demands of NIT sufferer students otherwise Hindu Sena will protest from Delhi to NIT Campus at Srinagar. He also framed a new unit for J&K in which Vinay Gupta has been nominated as State President, Rohit Singh Bhau as vice president, Himanshu Gupta as general secretary, Akash Gupta as secretary, Karan Dewan and Sunny Singh as joint secretaries and Aman Sharma as cashier.
Former Minister and President Dogra Sadar Sabha, J&K, Gulchain Singh Charak expressed dismay over the way BJP-PDP coalition Government in the State handled situation in Kashmir wherein students of Srinagar’s National Institute of Technology (NIT) were dealt with. He also described silence being maintained by Government as uncalled for. Charak while seeking safety and security of outside students in Kashmir asked the State as well as Central Government not to politicize university and college campuses and also ensure safety of students of Jammu and Kashmir studying outside in other States as well.
Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha held a meeting under the chairmanship of VP Sharma and condemned the NIT incident. The participants appealed to HRD Ministry to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of non-local students and action against the anti-national activists.
ABVP Poonch Unit held protest against the lathicharge on non-locals students. Speaking on the occasion ABVP City President Amit Gupta said that the Government should take a stern action against the police officials who did the brutal act of lathicharge. He also demanded that the security of the students should be tightened as they are getting threats from the locals and the Collage staff.
The activist of Pahari Vikas Committee, Bani under the leadership of its Chief Patron Advocate Rakesh Thakur held demonstration at Bani against the failure of State Government in protecting the non-local students of NIT Srinagar. Protesters denounced the police action and demanded that the guilty should be identified and strict action should be initiated against them. The students of GDC Bani and GHSS Bani boycotted their classes and held demonstration against the NIT episode.
In a joint statement Dr Ajay Chrungoo, Chairman Panun Kashmir and Dr Agnishekher, Convenor, said that “Panun Kashmir unequivocally supports the security concerns of the students of NIT Kashmir. Panun Kashmir also supports the shifting of NIT outside Kashmir. Panun Kashmir recognizes that the police repression and anti-India intimidation of the patriotic students reading in NIT Kashmir is part of a broader fundamentalist and separatist attrition campaign”.
The workers of Dogra Front and Shiv Sena (AG) under the leadership of its President Ashok Gupta held protest against the NIT college administration and the police officials who disrespected the National Flag. In a letter to Home Minister, Gupta demanded immediate action against the police personal who assaulted the students and disrespected the National Flag. He also demanded protection for the NIT students.
NSUI activist along with hundreds of students took out a rally from Jammu University to Jewel Chowk. The protestors were addressed by Neeraj Kundan, State President, Nasib Ali, Avijot Singh, Ajay Kumar, Sunny Parihar, Arif Choudhary and many others. NSUI demanded justice for NIT student and held that no FIR should be lodged against the students.
The resident of Tikri held protested against Lathicharge on students of NIT in Srinagar by police personnel. The protest was held under the leadership of Sarpanch Yash Pal Sharma, Naib Sarpanch Mangat Ram, Dharam Paul, Gopal Krishan, Rajesh Singh, Ajeet Sharma, Jagdev Singh and Shabeel Singh. The demonstrators blocked National Highway for few hours and burn the effigy of State Government.
National Students Union of India (NSUI), National Panther Student Union (NPSU), National Conference Student Union (NCSU), All India Students Federation (AISF) and Gujjar Bakrwal Students Federation (GBSF) have come under single banner namely “All Students Union Federation” to support the NIT Srinagar students and to expose the pseudo nationalism of BJP and ABVP. This amalgamation was formed and was announced here in a joint press conference of these organisations. All organisations committed that their struggle for students’ rights will be continue.
National Students Welfare Association (NSWA) J&K condemned the police action on NIT Srinagar students. NSWA Chairman Sadaket Malik in a meeting stressed for inter faith harmony among the students for nation building. He stressed upon the students to work for the country by not following political goons who apt to dilute the soil of this beloved nation.
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