DU unrest: President Mukherjee expresses disappointment over 'violence' at varsities

The President called for collective efforts to re-discover the sense of national purpose and patriotism.

Expressing disappointment over 'violence' and 'disquiet' at the universities, President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said there must be space for legitimate criticism and dissent in the society.

Speaking at the 6th K.S. Rajamony Memorial Lecture in Kochi, Kerala, the President called for collective efforts to re-discover the sense of national purpose and patriotism.

It is tragic to see them (those in Universities) caught in the vortex of violence and disquiet: President Pranab Mukherjee in Kochi pic.twitter.com/TeLnYpIPLn

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 2, 2017

President Mukherjee also criticised atrocities against women and said that respect to women and children reflects the attitude of a society.

There should be no room in India for intolerant Indian.India has been since ancient times a bastion of free thought,speech & expression-Pres pic.twitter.com/Fo8NBmXMvP

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 2, 2017

The President's remarks are significant in the wake of recent events unfolding at the Delhi University.

Last week in DU's Ramjas College a fight broke out between the ABVP and the left-affiliated All India Student's Association over an invite to Umar Khalid for a seminar. Khalid, a Jawaharlal Nehru University student, was last year accused of sedition over an event where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. JNU's then student's union president Kanhaiya Kumar was also accused of sedition.

The Delhi University saw massive unrest since the last week's clash and several demonstrations were carried out across the campus.

Lady Shri Ram college student Gurmehar Kaur, who became the face of opposition against ABVP through a social media campaign, had received alleged rape threats over the issue.

The ABVP on Wednesday staged a protest against the 'police inaction' in the Jawaharlal Nehru University sedition case.

OneIndia News