MUMBAI: A number of Indian sportspersons have voiced their outrage against the attacks by armed goons on students and professors of the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday that also threw a spotlight on how the Delhi police stood mute witness while anarchy was unleashed on one of India’s premier educational institutions.
Masked men and women armed with sticks and sledgehammers attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the JNU campus on Sunday night and the unchecked violence inside the university sparked off a nationwide agitation with protests having taken place in multiple cities.
“Such violence on university campus is completely against the ethos of this country. No matter what the ideology or bent of mind, students cannot be targeted this way. Strictest punishment has to be meted out to these goons who have dared to enter the University,” World Cup-winning cricketer-turned BJP MP Gautam Gambhir tweeted.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who announced his retirement recently, said that such incidents do not help the country’s image. “What happened in JNU yesterday is not a regular incident. Students being attacked by armed mob inside University campus, in hostels, is as broken as it can get. This isn’t helping our country’s image,” Pathan tweeted.
Rohan Bopanna, currently India’s highest ranked doubles tennis player, also condemned the attacks and demanded strict punishment for those behind the violence.
“Horrific and shameful what has happened in #JNU , The people responsible for these must be punished. #JNUViolence #JNUattack”
Retired badminton doubles player Jwala Gutta was the most unequivocal in her condemnation of the dastardly attacks.
A series of tweets Gutta posted read: “We as sportsperson represent INDIA…and now students of our country are being beaten up and the goons have been let off…
I request all the GREATS of the sports of INDIA…speak for our students…they are our future!! #condemnviolence #JNUattack #JNUVioence
“Why the guilty ones weren’t caught and charged?? Why were the escorted out of the university? #JNUattack #JNUUnderAttack
“Are we all gonna be still quiet?? Watch this happen to our students?? #JNUViolence”
Cricketer Manoj Tiwary also weighed in, tweeting: “Disturbing scenes at JNU campus. Thought are wit the ones who all got injured #JNUAttack”
Cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar had this to say: “Over the years Indians have given boundless love to their heroes without caring about their religion. That’s why I believe its impossible to shake India’s strong, secular instincts.”
As many as 26 students and teachers were injured on Sunday evening inside the JNU campus. Eyewitnesses said the attacks were carried out by the ABVP – a charge the RSS student outfit has denied.
