Can't stay neutral on such issues: Varun Dhawan on JNU attack
Indore: Actor Varun Dhawan on Tuesday condemned the violence in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and said one cannot stay neutral during such incidents, joining a section of Bollywood personalities who have denounced the campus mayhem.
Violence had broken out inside the university campus on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property. At least 34 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured.
Speaking to reporters here in Madhya Pradesh while promoting his upcoming film, Dhawan said, "I think we cannot stay neutral in such issues. You have to condemn such attacks.
"It is dangerous and sad if masked people enter an educational institution and all this (assault, vandalism) happens."
Queried on whether there was a "divide" in the Hindi film industry on the incident going by the vast number of tweets and posts on social media from the fraternity, the 32- year-old actor evaded a direct reply and said, "I am not going to get into what people are saying on Twitter on this issue."
He feigned ignorance when asked about tweets against the Centre on the JNU violence by producer-director Anurag Kashyap, and said "I have been promoting my film for the past three days and have not read statements of these people".
The 'Badlapur' actor said it was not known, right now, who was behind Sunday's violence inside the premier central varsity.
"But the police will investigate it. As an Indian, I have full faith in the police and judiciary. I hope those involved in this incident get severe punishment as soon as possible," he said.
Dhawan said everybody, especially parents, wanted students to remain safe in campuses, adding that the need now was for peace and stability and for all people to act unitedly.
"It is easy to sit here and say whether this or that man is wrong," he added.
"Horrifying", "heartbreaking" and "barbaric" is how voices emerging from Bollywood such as director Zoya Akhtar, actors Anil Kapoor and Alia Bhatt on Monday described the JNU violence and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
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High-level inquiry committee set up to probe fire in Rajdhani Express: Railway Board
New Delhi (PTI): The West Central Railway Zone has constituted a high administrative grade-level inquiry committee to investigate the fire on the Thiruvananthapuram Central-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express on Sunday.
The fire erupted at 5.15 am in the B-1 passenger coach of the train between Vikramgarh Alot and Lunirichha stations under the Kota Railway division, one-and-a-half hours after it left the Ratlam Junction in Madhya Pradesh, according to an official. The fire also damaged the luggage brake and generator car behind the coach.
"The committee has been nominated by the general manager of West Central Railway (WCR). It comprises senior officers from the West Central Railway, Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, and RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation)," the Railway Board said in a press note.
"Principal chief safety officer, WCR, has been appointed as the convener of the committee," it said, also mentioning other committee members such as principal chief electrical engineer, principal chief mechanical engineer, principal chief security officer from the WCR zone, and principal chief mechanical engineer from the Integrated Coach Factory, among others.
As per the provisions of the Accident Manual, the committee has been directed to complete the inquiry within the stipulated timeframe.
The Board stated that the committee will conduct a detailed examination of the causes of the incident, technical aspects and safety parameters so as to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.
"Indian Railways remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of passengers and is taking all necessary measures in this regard," it added.
