JNU Violence Reminded Me Of 26/11 Mumbai Attack, Says Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

Amid the outrage over the unprecedented JNU violence, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said that the mob attack on student of one of India’s prestigious central university reminded him of ‘26/11 Mumbai Attacks’. Thackeray termed those masked goons as coward. He also said that such people cannot be backed at any level. Thackery also demanded that the identities of the masked thugs must be revealed. The statement comes a day after more than 50 masked thugs attacked the students and teachers of the JNU. Disturbing videos of the mayhem showed shattered glasses, loud screams of help and bleeding skulls.

#WATCH Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on JNU violence: What was the need for attackers to wear masks? They were cowards. I was watching on TV and it reminded me of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. I will not tolerate such attacks in Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/LR1kpctk8K

— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2020

Thackeray also added that the students in Maharashtra need not fear as his government would ensure safety of each and every individual. This is not the first time that the Maharashtra Chief Minister has equated violence on campus with a brutal historic carnage. Earlier, Thackeray had likened the police brutality in Jamia Millia Islamia to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He had also said the power of youth was like a bomb, and warned against igniting it.

Apart from Thackeray, Chief Minister of West Bengal and Kerala have also slammed the JNU mob attack. 

Eyewitnesses alleged that the attackers entered the premises when a meeting was being held by JNU Teachers' Association over the issue of violence on the campus, and assaulted students and professors. They also barged into three hostels. Video footage aired by some TV channels showed a group of men, who were brandishing hockey sticks and rods, moving around a building. The Left-controlled JNUSU and the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) blamed each other for the incident. 

Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Monday registered an FIR in connection with the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University, a day after at least 28 - , including JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh - people were injured when masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus.

"We have taken cognizance of yesterday's JNU Violence and have registered an FIR. Social media and CCTV footages will be part of investigation," Devendra Arya, DCP (South-West), said.

According to reports, the investigation is underway and police have identified some masked men through videos on social media.

Earlier, Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa held a late-night meeting with a delegation of students and teachers after violence broke out at the university in the national capital. Following the violence, the administration called in the police which conducted a flag march.