Countrywide protests in solidarity with JNU continue

Protests continue to be being held across the country to show solidarity with JNU and to oppose the crackdown by the government on the University and the oppression unleashed upon students.

West Bengal and Tripura: In Kolkata the CPI-ML took out a rally on 18 February to stand with JNU students and to condemn the oppression and witch hunt being unleashed upon the campus. In Tripura University the students held a protest demonstration to express solidarity with JNU. In Kolkata AISA also organized a rally and demanded a stop to the witch hunt of JNU students. During a protest held at Jadavpur University, ABVP goons attacked the protesting students and trampled upon posters bearing pictures of Rohith Vemula. This was strongly protested by the students.

Bihar: Protests in support of JNU were held across Bihar. In Patna, a spirited protest was organized in front of the State BJP office during which BJP activist resorted to stone throwing, resulting in injuries to several students and one journalist. The police did nothing to control the violent BJP workers and instead lathi-charged the students. The dharna demanded the immediate release of Kanhaiya Kumar and others, ending the witch hunt of JNU students, and revoking of all false cases of sedition.

On 19 February a ‘rail roko’ demonstration was held at Rajendra Nagar railway station in Patna during which many trains were stopped. AISA, AISF and other student organizations took part in this protest. On 20 February a human chain was organized from Patna University gate to Darbhanga House, in which about 150 students from various student organizations as well as intellectuals participated shouting slogans of ‘Save JNU’ and ‘Justice for Rohith Vemula’. On 23 February a protest meeting was organized at Patna University in which leaders and activists from CPI-ML, AISA, RYA, Patna University Professors, and various people’s organizations participated and Hirawal presented songs.

Protests were also held in Purnea, Bhagalpur, Supoul, and Muzaffarpur.

Jharkhand: In Giridih on 16 February and in Raj Dhanwar and Bagodar on 19 February rallies were taken out under the banner of AISA, RYA and AISF. In Bermo, Bokaro district, a rally was taken out on 16 February where ABVP goons attacked the protesters; an FIR in this matter has been registered at the local thana. Again on 20 February another huge protest rally was taken out to stand with JNU.

AISA and RYA took out a protest march in Ranchi on 12 February. On 17 Febraury the Vidhan Sabha was gheraoed under the banners of AISA, SFI, AISF, RYA, AIYF, and AIDSO, after which a protest meeting was held at Firayalal Chowk. On 18 February a collection of poems ‘Pratirodh ke Paksh’ was released at Ranchi University during which the Sanghi assault on JNU was condemned. A citizen’s march was organized by AIPF, JSM and other cultural organizations.

Maharashtra: In Pune AISA along with Phule Ambedkar Kriti Samiti called for a bandh in Pune University on 12 February; campaigns were conducted in the week leading up to the bandh to call for participation. About 80% University departments remained closed on the day of the bandh and some examinations had to be postponed. A protest meeting was held at the University main building in which the speakers condemned the role of the government, police and administration in JNU as well as the Rohith Vemula case.

A protest was held in Nagpur on 13 February in which CPI-ML, CPI-M, CPI, SUCI, Bolshevik Party and BRP Bahujan Mahasangh participated. A huge protest was held in front of Mumbai University on 15 February in which AISA, SFI, AISF, DYFI, Samta Vidyarthi Aghadi and other organizations participated.

Chhattisgarh: A joint Left protest was held in front of the Durg Collectorate under the banner ‘Save JNU, Save Democracy’. Speakers addressing the protest meeting condemned the crackdown on JNU and a memorandum was submitted to the President through the SDM demanding immediate release of JNUSU President Kanhaiya, revoking of sedition charges on all 8 accused students, ending the witch hunt on JNU students, constituting a high level enquiry and punishing the guilty.

Uttar Pradesh: The CPI-ML organized a rally in Gorakhpur in which hundreds of youth, women, and intellectuals participated, starting from the district party office and culminating in a protest meeting at the Town Hall in front of the Gandhi statue. The speakers condemned the anti-people and anti-student actions of the government. They protested the Gorakhpur University VC‘s becoming a signatory to the BJP’s signature campaign and demanded that the UP Governor take action against him as he was acting like an agent of the BJP.

Rajasthan: On 18 Feb in Udaipur, Left activists Saurabh Naruka and Rahul Rot along with 4 other activists went to distribute pamphlets in the Science College where about 30-40 ABVP activists attacked them. They were badly beaten up with wooden stools by the ABVP goons and threatened with death threats. Com. Saurabh Naruka received grave injuries on the hands and shoulders and Com. Rahul Rot’s motor cycle was also broken.

The injured Left activists went to the Bhoopalpura thana where their complaint was accepted but till 7 pm no FIR was registered. Due to political pressure, without an FIR, no medical examination of the injured could be done. Later a delegation of Left parties went to the thana, met the thana in-charge and demanded that an FIR should be registered without delay and action should be taken against the guilty.

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