Mumbai:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday yet again drew parallels between the Sunday’s violence in New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the Nov.26, 2008 (26/11) terror strikes in Mumbai which had provoked a similar outrage 12 years ago. It may be recalled some days ago, he had likened the police action at Jamia Millia Islamia University (JMIU) campus to the Jalianwalla Baug massacre of April 13, 1919.
“Why were the attackers’ faces covered? Why were they hiding? Seeing them, I was reminded of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks… They (the attackers) are cowards and the country will never support their acts,” Thackeray said while condemning the violence. He said “those who indulged in the JNU violence need to be unmasked and their faces must be known to the whole country”, adding that in due course these hidden elements are bound to be exposed.
Thackeray demanded that – without going into the politics of it – whoever those masked perpetrators of the JNU campus violence may be, they should be “laid bare before the people” and meted out the harshest possible punishment. Speaking to newspersons at his Matoshri residence, the CM issued a stern warning that his government will not tolerate if similar attempts are made to create such a situation in Maharashtra.
He assured that “the youth in the state are absolutely safe, nobody can harm even their hair, but if anybody tries to do, then we will not spare them”. Referring to his statement made last month wherein he had said “the youth of the country are like a bomb and must not be tinkered with or their angst could explode” he assured his full support to the youth. “There are apprehensions in the minds of the country’s youth, students… There is a need to take them into confidence, address their doubts and make them feel secure of their future,” Thackeray urged.
He said the youth symbolise the very foundation of the country’s future and their thought process is important, “but if they do not feel secure even in their hostels, then it’s a blot on the country”, adding the youth have nothing to worry about their safety in Maharashtra.
Earlier, top leaders and ministers of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance have condemned the JNU violence which injured around 35 students and professors, leading to a nationwide fury and a flurry of protests. (IANS)
