New Delhi, January 6: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while speaking on the violence that erupted inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday evening, took a dig at the critics of the ruling dispensation. At a book release event in New Delhi, the Foreign Minister said that at the time he was studying in the university, there was no “tukde tukde gang”. Jaishankar is also an alumnus of the JNU. JNU Violence: Union Ministers S Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman Condemn Attack on Students in Campus.

During the event, when Jaishankar was asked about the JNU violence, he said, “I can certainly tell you, when I studied in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), we didn't see any 'tukde tukde' gang there.” The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government refers a section of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's critics, who allegedly stoke fear among minorities and abet the politics of separatism in Kashmir, as "tukde tukde gang".

S Jaishanker's Statement:

Earlier on Sunday, Jaishankar had condemned the attack on the JNU campus. He had said that it was against the tradition and culture of the varsity. After the attack, Jaishankar tweeted, saying, “Have seen pictures of what is happening in #JNU. Condemn the violence unequivocally. This is completely against the tradition and culture of the university.” ABVP Accuses JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh of Orchestrating Attack in University Campus, Shares Video as 'Proof'.

On Sunday evening, a mob of around 50 masked men entered the university and thrashed students and professors. They also vandalised university hostels. Around 40 students, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, were severely injured in the attack. The Student union blamed Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for the attack. However, the RSS-affilated student wing organisation not only rejected the allegation but also accused Ghosh and left-wing organisations for orchestrating the attack.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 06, 2020 08:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).