JNU violence: ABVP, NSUI members clash in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad: Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and its rival National Students' Union of India clashed here on Tuesday during a protest against the JNU violence, leaving at least four persons from both the sides injured, police said.
The incident occurred during the demonstration organised by the NSUI, the students' wing of the Congress, outside the office of the RSS-affiliated ABVP in the city's Paldi area.
The police later rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, an official said.
"Two members each from ABVP and NSUI were injured in the clashes. The situation was brought under control by the police. We have started the process to take complaints from both the sides," said Deputy Commissioner of Police, K N Damor.
The NSUI and the ABVP, however, claimed that more than 15 people were injured. While the ABVP claimed that four of their workers were injured, the NSUI put the number of injured to 12.
Violence broke out here when members of the NSUI arrived outside the ABVP office to protest against the attack on students and teachers at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi on Sunday.
The NSUI has been alleging that ABVP members were involved in the violence. Both the student bodies accused each other of using sticks and stones during the clash.
Gujarat NSUI general secretary Nikhil Savani sustained serious head injuries and was admitted to V S General Hospital here, a member of the Congress students' body said.
In a video clip telecast by some local news channels, Savani was seen being beaten by some people in the presence of police personnel.
Notably, President of Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Rutvij Patel, was also present when Savani was thrashed outside ABVP office, alleged Congress.
Upon learning about the attack on Savani and others, local Congress leaders, including party spokesperson Manish Doshi, sat on a 'dharna' in the VS Hospital campus.
Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda condemned the attack and called for a state-wide protest tomorrow.
"ABVP attacked our members using sharp weapons. They wanted to kill Savani and three others, who were severely injured in the attack. It is equally shocking that the attack took place in the presence of police. This attack was executed under the supervision of BJP leaders under a well thought-out conspiracy," alleged Chavda.
Referring to the violence in the JNU, Chavda said the attack on NSUI activists here was executed as per BJP's "Delhi pattern", and at the behest of the "party high command".
The ABVP alleged that NSUI members came to its office with an intention to attack the activists, a claim backed by the BJP.
When asked about the violence captured on cameras, BJP leaders claimed that it was their right to respond if someone attacks them.
"I do not endorse violence, but I want to ask you.
What will you do if someone storms in your house with an intention to thrash you? Won't you defend yourself? The Congress started it all? What was the need to go to the office of the ABVP? The Congress was also behind the violence in JNU," said Gujarat BJP president Jitu Vaghani.
Similar views were expressed by local ABVP leaders when confronted by reporters over the attack on Savani and others.
"If someone attacks my house then I have every right to defend myself. Four of our members were injured in the attack by NSUI. What will you do if someone comes with an intention to hit you? They came prepared to attack us. NSUI even hurled stones on our office, but that incident was not captured on cameras," said ABVP media convener for Gujarat, Samarth Bhatt.
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Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India calls current situation 'no war, no peace'
Bengaluru (PTI): Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, Abdul Majeed Hakeem Ilahi on Saturday characterised the ongoing tensions between his country and the Israel-US alliance as a state of “no war, no peace”.
Calling for an immediate halt to the conflict, he said the global stability hinges on those who initiated the war.
He questioned why countries affected by the war and suffering from the energy crisis are not pressuring the US and Israel to stop the aggression.
Addressing a press conference here, Ilahi said Iran did not want the conflict, but was compelled to respond amid continued attacks, even as negotiations were expected to continue.
"Iran didn't want this war, but Iran was forced by the war and several times Iran tried to avoid this war... I don't know what is the condition of these people and these countries (US-Israel)... they want to impose on other countries what they want, and who gave them this authority?" he questioned.
Recalling the negotiations Iran held in Oman, he said talks later moved to Geneva and made progress before being disrupted by sudden attacks.
Ilahi claimed that airstrikes and missile attacks led to the deaths of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ministers, commanders and civilians.
"They killed a lot of civilians… They attacked a primary school, and they killed 175 innocent girls," he said, claiming over 4,000 deaths, more than 40,000 injuries, and widespread damage to houses, hospitals, universities and public infrastructure.
Despite these losses, he said Iran resisted calls for “unconditional surrender” and stood firm and defended itself.
"They wanted unconditional surrender. Which no one—no one can accept it. Iran said, 'Okay, we are ready to be sacrificed,' but we are not ready to submit ourselves," he added.
He argued that they (US-Israel) proposed the current ceasefire only after realising that they could not achieve any of their objectives after 40 days of conflict.
The envoy further claimed that the ceasefire is not an actual ceasefire, but a “no war, no peace” situation.
Explaining the current situation in Iran, he said conditions remain stable and people are going about their daily lives.
"They are working ....(leading) their ordinary life. They are working—they're going farming and they do everything....and they aren't scared of anything. And they are ready to defend themselves," he added.
Addressing the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, he said the situation was stable before February 28 and all countries benefited from it.
"(For) 10,000 years, the Strait of Hormuz was open...and Iran daily yearly spent a lot for providing security in the Strait of Hormuz... so no one even complained anything about the Strait of Hormuz. Everyone was free...and even our enemies their warship was passing through the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
However, he linked the current maritime instability to the actions of the US and Israel.
"So Iran cannot do anything. Those people who initiated, created and started this war, they have to stop it. And everything will go back to normal," he said.
Criticising the mentality of the "great powerful country", Ilahi said, "they think they have the right to do whatever they want. It should change."
He sought to know why the countries affected by the conflict are not exerting pressure on the US and the "Zionist" regime to halt the war.
"Why are they not asking them? This crisis and problem by which a lot of countries are affected was created by them. A lot of factories are closed and even working days in some countries reduced... A lot of restaurants are closed," he said.
Seeking fairness and justice, Ilahi said instead of asking Iran, all those nations should ask those who initiated this war to stop it, by telling them, "we are suffering."
To a query on international mediation, Ilahi, referring to the US, asked, "Is it acceptable and reasonable that one country orders all countries -- you should not deal with this country, You should not purchase from this country. You should not have business with this country. You should not buy from this country."
Ilahi also highlighted Iran's long-standing ties with India and said, "It is a great country and we respect India and Indians."
"We have 5,000 years relationship and friendship. We are connected to India by education, by philosophy, by culture, by civilisation and by the economy," he said.
According to him, the bilateral cooperation remains strong, citing diplomatic engagement.
"At the moment also, our relationship, collaboration, cooperation with India is very good," he said, adding Iran allowing Indian ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz reflects the ties.
"Iran allowed Indian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Why? A lot of countries couldn't get this permission?... The relationship between Iran and India is very good," he added.
He expressed confidence that in future too, the ties between Iran and India will be strong.
