CPI condemns fine imposition on JNU leader Kanhaiya

Hyderabad, April 28: Alleging that the report for taking disciplinary action on JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was prepared at the behest of ABVP, the CPI today condemned the imposition of fine on the student leader.

"We condemn the action on Kanhaiya. Action was taken on him without specific allegations. Police had earlier said they found no evidence that he was raising (anti-national) slogans," CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said.

Left student unions had nothing to do with the event where objectionable slogans were raised, he said, adding it was not clear why action was taken against Kumar. "The committee chairman himself was convener of an anti- reservation committee.

He was a pro-BJP, anti-Mandal, anti- reservation student leader. It is known to all what sort of a stance a person of such background would take.

University teachers' union leaders were not there (in committee). Only those who would give a favourable report were made (appointed to the committee)," he alleged. Reddy further said that ABVP had given a news leak 20 days ago that Rs 10,000 fine would be imposed on him and that others would be rusticated. "They are doing the same thing now. We feel that this report is not prepared by this committee and that they merely signed on the report prepared in ABVP office," Reddy said.

All India Students Federation (AISF), with which Kanhaiya Kumar is associated, is the student wing of CPI. Yesterday, JNU students who have been punished by the University in connection with the controversial February 9 event began an indefinite hunger strike to demand revocation of punitive action.

Kanhaiya, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattachayra were arrested on the charge of sedition in February in connection with an event on campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

They are out on bail now. While Kanhaiya has been slapped with a penalty of Rs 10,000 on grounds of "indiscipline and misconduct", Umar, Anirban and Kashmiri student Mujeeb Gatoo have been rusticated for varied durations.

PTI