JNU Violence Akin To 26/11 Mumbai Attack, Won't Tolerate It In Maharashtra: CM Uddhav Thackeray

Several political leaders from the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi have slammed the violence against the JNU students-teachers and demanded stringent action against the perpetrators.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray (PIC/Twitter account)

JNU Violence: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday compared the Sunday's violence in New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University with the 26/11, 2008 terror strikes in Mumbai 12 years ago. "Why were the attackers face covered? Why are they hiding? I was watching on TV and I was reminded of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks... They are cowards," Thackeray said condemning the violence strongly. He said "those who indulged in the violence need to be unmasked and their faces must be known to the whole country", adding that in due course they are bound to be exposed. Thackeray said he will not tolerate such attacks in Maharashtra. "I want to assure the youth of Maharashtra that I won’t let anything happen to them & they are completely safe. There will be serious repercussions if anyone tries to repeat what happened last night in the JNU campus in Maharashtra." The chief minister's remarks came after protests broke out at various cities on Monday including Mumbai against the attack on students of Delhi's Jawaharlal University by a masked mob. Hundreds of students from various organisations, NGOs and prominent personalities staged a sit-in protest on Monday at the iconic Gateway of India, to condemn the Sunday hooliganism in Jawaharlal Nehru University campus in New Delhi. The students carried the Indian Tricolour, banners and posters expressing solidarity with the JNU students and professors, and condemned the violence indulged in by masked attackers. (Watch Uddhav Thackeray's video uploaded by news agency ANI on Twitter)

#WATCH Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on JNU violence: What was the need for attackers to wear masks? They were cowards. I was watching on TV and it reminded me of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. I will not tolerate such attacks in Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/LR1kpctk8K

— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2020

Joining the protest, senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad slammed the ruling BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and said attempts are being made to "destroy democracy in India". Several political leaders from the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi have slammed the violence against the JNU students-teachers and demanded stringent action against the perpetrators. Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi today demanded a judicial enquiry into the major violence. In a statement here, she said the entire party stands in solidarity with the JNU students "The entire Congress party stands in solidarity with India's youth and students. We strongly deprecate the sponsored violence in JNU yesterday (Sunday) and demand an independent judicial inquiry," Gandhi said.

People behind masks should be brought forward and be punished. There is an atmosphere of fear amongst the youth in our country, we need to come together & instill confidence in them. -CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray pic.twitter.com/ZsGnkyME66

— Office of Uddhav Thackeray (@OfficeofUT) January 6, 2020

"The voice of India's youth and students is being muzzled everyday. The horrifying and unprecedented violence unleashed on India's young by goons with active abetment of the ruling Modi government is deplorable and unacceptable", she added. The Congress President noted that raids on campuses and colleges across the country either by the police or lumpen elements had become a daily occurence, and alleged that this phenomenon has the backing of the BJP government. "Yesterday's bone chilling attack on students and teachers in JNU, Delhi, is a grim reminder of the extent the government will go to stifle and subjugate every voice of dissent," the statement said. "Students and youth need affordable education, a deserving job, a promising future and a right to participate in our thriving democracy. Sadly, the Modi government seeks to suffocate and restrain each one of these aspirations." it added. (With IANS inputs)