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Jaipur, Oct 10 (IANS) Rajasthan opposition leader Tika Ram Juli on Thursday said the arrested students of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) have been arrested at the behest of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He said that peaceful protest is the fundamental right of every person.
After visiting the Central Jail in Jaipur to meet NSUI state president Vinod Jakhar and several recently arrested NSUI workers, the Rajasthan LOP said, “Vinod Jakhar and his fellow workers have been arrested on false charges. They have been arrested clearly at the behest of the RSS and the present government. This is an abuse of power.”
The arrests were made following a protest led by the National Students Union of India (NSUI) against a recent RSS event organized on the university campus.
Police had detained Vinod Jakhar and other student leaders citing alleged disturbance to public order.
“These arrests are politically motivated. Democratic rights and freedom of expression and peaceful protest are fundamental pillars of any democracy,” the Rajasthan opposition leader told media persons outside the jail.
Julie, who was accompanied by MLAs Amit Chachan and Manish Yadav, said that in a democracy every citizen has the right to raise his voice and express dissent.
“What message is this government giving by putting student leaders in jail for expressing their views?” he asked.
Calling the current administration a “government of waste”, pointing out alleged administrative inefficiencies, Julie said the government was trying to suppress dissent by targeting youth leaders.
“They may try to silence us, but we will not remain silent,” he claimed.
The visit has sparked political debate, with the opposition accusing the government of suppressing student activism and democratic discussion in the state.
The Congress has demanded the immediate release of the detained NSUI members and withdrawal of “fabricated charges”.
The incident has also been criticized by various student organizations and civil society groups, who see the arrest as a dangerous precedent for curbing student rights on university campuses.
–IANS
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