JNU row: Paswan condemns attack on journos in Delhi court premises

Patna, Feb 18: Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan today condemned the attack on journalists in a Delhi court premises yesterday and said he has sympathy for JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar as he is a "son of Bihar."

"I outrightly condemn the attack (by some lawyers) on journalists covering JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar's appearing in a court premises in Delhi yesterday.... it is regrettable that the mediapersons were attacked in the court premises....," he told reporters.

On the arrest of the JNUSU president, Paswan said "I have sympathy for him as he is a son of Bihar but I cannot say anything about his arrest."

The LJP supremo said one does not commit treason by merely attending meetings but raising 'anti-India' slogans come under the ambit of sedition and demanded a thorough probe into the JNU incident.

Though batting from freedom of speech and expression, he said there should a 'Laxman Rekha' for free discourse as nothing should be said or done which violates the provisions of the Constitution and nationalism.

"I favour open-ended discourse on whatever issues irrespective of ideologies as far as the students are concerned but there must a 'Laxman Rekha' for all such discourse," the Minister said.

Deploring raising of 'anti-India' slogans in JNU, he said a wrong message has gone out from that University.

"A wrong message has clearly gone out from JNU where the protesters chanted for dismemberment of India," Paswan said adding those shouting 'anti-India' slogans clearly breached the sanctity of the Constitution.

PTI