VC seems to be ‘mastermind’ of JNU attack, sack him immediately: Cong fact finding report

New Delhi: A fact-finding committee of the Congress, probing the January 5 attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, on Sunday said the Vice-Chancellor ‘seems to be the mastermind’ behind the incident and ‘recommended’ his immediate sacking.

“The role of the Vice-Chancellor related to the incidents of January 5, points to connivance and complicity with the attackers. He seems to be the “master mind” behind the incident”, the report prepared by the committee said.

The committee was constituted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the aftermath of the attack in JNU, comprising Mahila Congress chief Sushmit Dev, Lok Sabha MP and former NSUI president Hibi Eden, MP and former president of JNU NSUI Syed Naseer Hussain and former NSUI president ex-DUSU president Amrita Dhawan.

“The Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar should be dismissed immediately and an independent inquiry should be set up to look at all appointments made from January 27, 2016, the date of his appointment, till date and all other financial and administrative decisions taken during his tenure should also be investigated”, the report recommended.

Addressing mediapersons at AICC headquarters, Ms Dev, along with other members of the committee said that they have submitted the report to Ms Gandhi on Saturday.

The committee also recommended a criminal investigation against the Vice-Chancellor, the company that provides security service and members of the faculty who conspired with the attackers at Sabarmati hostel, Periyar hostel and other places.

“The security company’s contract must be immediately terminated”, it said.

Ms Dev said - an independent judicial inquiry must be conducted into the events of January 5, that led to violence on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

“Fix accountability of the Commissioner of Delhi Police and other police officials because of police failure to act on the emergency calls by the students and faculty members on January 5 and in light of the overwhelming prima facie evidence that they facilitated the criminal elements on campus”, it further said.

Referring to the fee hike and the protests, the committee recommended immediate rollback of the fee hike as implemented by the University authorities and added that “recognition of JNUSU as an elected body so that proper consultation can take place between the administration and the students on the fee and other issues.”.

Ms Dev said the report has been prepared on the basis of their interaction with students, faculty members, and employees at the University, however, the Vice-Chancellor did not respond to them. (UNI)