New Delhi: The JNU row, which has snowballed into a major political controversy, was on Tuesday prominently raised at an all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of the Budget session, and the government came out with an assurance that it was ready to discuss all issues in Parliament.
The Opposition parties voiced their concern over the attempts to curtail the autonomy of the varsity and urged the government to protect the autonomy of all educational institutions in the country. Besides the JNU controversy, the Opposition parties also tried to corner the government over the suicide of a Dalit student of the Hyderabad Central University.
Congress, while dissociating itself from the JNU students, who questioned the unity and integrity of the country, expressed its strong disagreement over the sedition charge slapped against the JNU Students’ Union President Kanhaiya Kumar.
Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said,”Our party totally dissociates itself from any move, that is anti-India and questions the sovereignty of the country. We are clear that we do not support any such thing.” His party, however, said the sedition charge against the JNU students leader was unwarranted.
Mr Azad also protested against the Government over the ”anti-national” rant against his party from the ruling establishment. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu expressed the government’s willingness to go the extra mile to accommodate the Opposition’s concerns. “We are ready for an open discussion on the issue in the House. At the same time, we hope that truth will come out of the ongoing probe,” Mr Naidu told mediapersons after the meeting. But the government told the Opposition that the raising of anti-India slogans on the campus could not be justified. The government could not extract from the Opposition any commitment to support some key pending legislation. Mr Azad said that his party would consider supporting any bills on merit basis. Mr Modi sought to make it clear to the Opposition that he was not a Prime Minister of any particular party, but of the whole country, the Congress leader remarked. Congress and other Opposition parties also complained about the fringe elements and some ruling party leaders vitiating the atmosphere in the country, and demanded action against them. The Opposition also raised the issue of farm crisis, and of President?s rule in Arunachal Pradesh. The Left voiced its protest over vandalisation of the CPI (M)’s office and threat to its party leader Sitaram Yechury.
The Prime Minister’s initiative was aimed at seeking the Opposition’s support in smooth running of Parliament and consensus over some crucial legislations such as the GST Bill, which cannot be passed without the Congress’ cooperation in the Upper House. The meeting was attended by leaders of major political parties in both Houses of Parliament. (UNI)
