PC Flays Govt Move To Put Kanhaiya Kumar On Trial

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday hit out at the Delhi government for its sanction to prosecute former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and nine others in connection with a sedition case, saying the Kejriwal dispensation is “no less ill-informed than the Centre” in its understanding of the sedition law.

The Delhi government has given a go-ahead to the city police to prosecute former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar and nine others in connection with a four-year-old sedition case, as the ruling AAP denied the persistent BJP charge of blocking the proceedings in the matter.

“Delhi Government is no less ill-informed than the central government in its understanding of sedition law,” Chidambaram tweeted.

“I strongly disapprove of the sanction granted to prosecute Mr Kanhaiya Kumar and others for alleged offences under sections 124A and 120B of IPC,” the former home minister said.

The sanction was granted by the Delhi government on 20 February, he said.

The Delhi Police had last year filed the chargesheet at a city court against Kanhaiya Kumar and others, saying he was leading a procession and supported seditious slogans at an event in February 2016.

It also charged former JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya with allegedly shouting anti-India slogans during the event to commemorate the hanging of Parliament-attack mastermind Afzal Guru.

The prosecution sanction was granted nearly a year after a city court asked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to take a decision within a reasonable timeframe and noted that the delay was leading to violation of the due process of law.

Recent Posts

  • Featured

Killing Journalists Cannot Kill The Truth

As I write, the grim count of journalists killed in Gaza since last October has reached 97. Reporters Without Borders…

10 hours ago
  • Featured

The Corporate Takeover Of India’s Media

December 30, 2022, was a day to forget for India’s already badly mauled and tamed media. For, that day, influential…

13 hours ago
  • Featured

What Shakespeare Can Teach Us About Racism

William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy “Othello” is often the first play that comes to mind when people think of Shakespeare and…

2 days ago
  • Featured

Student Protests Look Familiar But March To A Different Beat

This week, Columbia University began suspending students who refused to dismantle a protest camp, after talks between the student organisers…

2 days ago
  • Featured

Free And Fearless Journalism In The Midst Of A Fight For Survival

Freedom of the press, a cornerstone of democracy, is under attack around the world, just when we need it more…

2 days ago
  • Featured

Commentary: The Heat Is On, From Poll Booths To Weather Stations

Parts of India are facing a heatwave, for which the Kerala heat is a curtain raiser. Kerala experienced its first…

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.