Opposition slams govt over JNU, Patiala Court incidents

New Delhi, Feb 25: Citing the incidents in JNU and Patiala House court, the opposition led by Congress today slammed the government in Rajya Sabha and alleged that law and order in Delhi had deteriorated, a charge rebutted by Home Minister Rajnath Singh who patted the back of police for handling the two cases.

The opposition parties questioned slapping of sedition charge against some students of JNU and alleged that attempts were being made to save the perpetrators of violence in Patiala House court, claiming that Delhi Police was a "party" to the incident.

"The incidents which happened during last few days were handled by Delhi Police in a professinal manner. Therefore, I am not in agreement that the law and order situation in Delhi has deterioated during the recent past," Singh said while replying to a debate on Calling Attention Motion on 'Complete breakdown of law and order in Delhi'.

The Home Minister said the police acted as per law in the anti-national and anti-constitutional incidents in the JNU. "A group of many students in the university tried to vitiate the atmosphere but it remained limited to the university premises," he said.

He added that "the Delhi police, while exercising restraint in Patiala House court premises, did not use force because there was a full possibility of stampede due to limited space in the court premises and use of tear gas would have interfered with the working of the court."

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad questioned how a "doctored video" in JNU case could be the basis for slapping sedition charge when real videos of violence in Patiala court leads to only "FIR and bail within 30 minutes".

He was referring to the arrest of BJP MLA O P sharma and two lawyers by the Delhi Police in connection with violence at Patiala court. All the three were given immediate bail. Rajnath Singh said, "What happened at Patiala court was very sad and I condemn it again.

No wise person will support it....I will only say that action has been taken. FIR has been registered." Azad said the "Police was party to it. How can they take action?" With regard to Azad's contention that weak charges have been pressed against Sharma and two lawyers, Singh asked, "Will the Home Minister decide what sections have to be applied."

Singh said on the day of violence itself, he had spoken to Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi and asked him to take strict action.

PTI