Tarun Gogoi alleges tacit support of PM Modi in JNU police attack

Guwahati, Feb 18: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today alleged there was "tacit support" of the Prime Minister for the police attack on students in JNU and said the BJP-led Centre is attempting to "impose" RSS ideology on educational institutions of the country.

"There has to be the tacit support of the Prime Minister for the police attack on the students in JNU. The Delhi police commissioner has not said anything on it. There has to be some power backing him," Gogoi claimed while addressing the media here.

"If (JNU students union president) Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested under charges of sedition, then why is the police commissioner saying they will not oppose if Kanhaiya applies for bail. On what charges was he (Kumar) arrested if he will be allowed to go on bail?" Gogoi asked.

"Look at JNU, Hyderabad University, FTII-Pune incidents and the imposition of RSS members in our Dibrugarh University managing committee. The BJP government is attempting to impose RSS ideology on educational institutions. Smriti Irani is listening to the RSS only," he said.

"There is intolerance in anything spoken against the Prime Minister or BJP, thereby violating the basic principle of democracy and the right to freedom of speech. Everyone has the right to express views," Gogoi said.

Referring to the Jawaharlal Nehru University row, he said "JNU is not just a top university in the country but in the world. With intellectuals and students, it is natural that there will be difference in opinions."

"But BJP supporters opposed that. There is nothing in Kanhaiya's speech that is anti-India," the Congress Chief Minister said.

"If the students had violated the law, then arrest them. But the government cannot take the law into its hands. It is a very dangerous trend to impose RSS ideology. It is a fascist tendency that only they will give directions," Gogoi said.

PTI