Ramjas College issue echoes in Delhi Assembly

The Ramjas College violence issue on Monday echoed in the Delhi Assembly with Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra raking it up along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “shamshan and kabristan” remarks to hit out at the Centre.

Mishra apposed these “models of development” to the AAP government’s work in the areas of education and health, saying its focus was on ensuring that people do not have to be “taken for cremation”.

“Many talk of ram rajya, but in reality it has come to Delhi,” he said.

There was violence on North Campus of Delhi University on February 22 after members of ABVP allegedly attacked AISA supporters when they were protesting against the cancellation of an event at Ramjas College that was to be addressed by JNU leaders Shehla Rashid and Umar Khalid.

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In his reply to the motion of thanks on the Lt Governor’s speech, Mishra also had words of praise for Anil Baijal, referring to how pending proposals on mohalla clinics and minimum wages among others have recently been cleared.

“I do not know what the future has in store but I think the city has breathed a sigh of relief in light of the recent developments,” he said.

Referring to the Modi’s remarks made during a poll rally in Uttar Pradesh, Mishra said while the Arvind Kejriwal government’s focus was on fundamental necessities like education, health and water, the BJP government had its eyes on “shamshan and kabristan”.

“We have seen another model in Ramjas. I think it is for the first time that we have people in power who are experts in certifying their own countrymen on who is a patriot and who is an anti-national,” he said.

Mishra, who holds the water and tourism portfolios, also took a jibe at the RSS over the issue, saying people who are questioning the patriotism of a martyr’s daughter should stop going where they go “in the morning”.

These were apparent references to Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur who had opposed the ABVP in a social media campaign and RSS ‘shakhas’, which are the daily morning meetings of the saffron outfit’s members.