New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman has come down heavily on those having sympathy for JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar who is facing sedition charges and is currently out on interim bail.
In an interview to The Indian Express, Nirmala Sitharam wondered how can the Congress have compassion for those who talked about ‘Desh ki Barbadi’ when 67 JNU students were sent to jail during Indira Gandhi’s regime just for gheroing the vice-chancellor.
“When I was in JNU during Indira Gandhi’s rule, some 67 students were sent to Tihar jail and some 160 were arrested the night before for gheraoing the Vice-Chancellor because he had taken disciplinary action by locking the room of a student. For gheraoing the Vice-Chancellor, you get Tihar jail, for those who speak about ‘Desh ki Barbadi’ (Destruction of the nation)’ you have compassion,” Nirmala Sitharaman told the newspaper.
The union minister also took strong objection to raising of anti-India slogans and celebration of death anniversary of Agzal Guru who was awarded capital punishment in accordance with due process of law.
“ On February 9, along with separatists, slogans were raised about ‘Bharat Tere Tukade Hazar Honge (India, you will become a thousand pieces)’… to hold a meeting to remember the man (Afzal Guru) who was given all available opportunity under the judicial process and then say ‘Tere Kaatil Abhi Zinda Hai (Your killers are still alive)’. Are you saying that the entire judiciary was wrong? Are you celebrating a person who has been punished after due process? I am sorry, this is not the JNU that I belong to,” she said.
She also pointed out that same people and political leaders who had opposed granting of US visa to then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi are today identifying themselves with the JNU issue.
“I am worried about such leaders who sought the help of foreigners to stop an elected chief minister from going abroad. Some of them are today identifying with the JNU issue,” she added.
Explaining the reason behind falling exports, Nirmala Sitharaman pointed out that the export quantity has actually not gone down and that the slump is mainly on account of depreciating currencies outside versus the Indian rupee.
“If you were exporting 100 things yesterday, you are exporting the same. The quantity hasn’t fallen. But because of depreciating currencies outside versus the Indian rupee, the realisation is falling. The value is falling, not quantity,” she said.
