This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/17/india-kanhaiya-kumar-student-sedition-jawaharlal-nehru-university-delhi

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Indian student leader accused of sedition 'beaten up by lawyers' Indian student leader accused of sedition 'beaten up by lawyers' Indian student leader accused of sedition 'beaten up by lawyers'
(about 2 hours later)
The Indian student union leader at the centre of a case that has triggered protests across universities and accusations that the government is trying to muzzle free speech says he has been beaten up outside court by lawyers.The Indian student union leader at the centre of a case that has triggered protests across universities and accusations that the government is trying to muzzle free speech says he has been beaten up outside court by lawyers.
In a repeat of chaotic scenes from Monday, Kanhaiya Kumar, head of the student union at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, claimed he was hit by lawyers chanting nationalist slogans. Kumar, who is accused of sedition, told the court he was manhandled on the way in and lost his shoes in the process. “I was rebuked, I was attacked,” he said.In a repeat of chaotic scenes from Monday, Kanhaiya Kumar, head of the student union at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, claimed he was hit by lawyers chanting nationalist slogans. Kumar, who is accused of sedition, told the court he was manhandled on the way in and lost his shoes in the process. “I was rebuked, I was attacked,” he said.
Defence lawyer Vrinda Grover told Reuters: “A person has come dressed as a lawyer and beaten him up inside the court premises today. The police couldn’t do anything, it’s a complete violation of the supreme court order.”Defence lawyer Vrinda Grover told Reuters: “A person has come dressed as a lawyer and beaten him up inside the court premises today. The police couldn’t do anything, it’s a complete violation of the supreme court order.”
About a dozen lawyers threw rocks at reporters and protesters. One grabbed the camera strap of an Associated Press photographer, bruising his hand and breaking his lens.About a dozen lawyers threw rocks at reporters and protesters. One grabbed the camera strap of an Associated Press photographer, bruising his hand and breaking his lens.
The lawyers – many of whom had been involved in similar violence on Monday when reporters and Kumar’s supporters were beaten outside the court premises – waved Indian flags and chanted: “glory to Mother India” and “traitors leave India”.The lawyers – many of whom had been involved in similar violence on Monday when reporters and Kumar’s supporters were beaten outside the court premises – waved Indian flags and chanted: “glory to Mother India” and “traitors leave India”.
The remand hearing was briefly adjourned as the supreme court rushed a team of commissioners to investigate the events at the Patiala House court in Delhi.The remand hearing was briefly adjourned as the supreme court rushed a team of commissioners to investigate the events at the Patiala House court in Delhi.
The court banned protests after Monday’s violence. Kumar, 28, was arrested at a student rally last week held to commemorate the anniversary of the execution of a Kashmiri separatist over his role in an attack on the Indian parliament in 2001. His supporters deny he made any incendiary remarks.The court banned protests after Monday’s violence. Kumar, 28, was arrested at a student rally last week held to commemorate the anniversary of the execution of a Kashmiri separatist over his role in an attack on the Indian parliament in 2001. His supporters deny he made any incendiary remarks.
The reaction of authorities to the protests at JNU – which is well known for its politically active student body and strongly disliked by the Hindu right – comes against a background of what critics say is rising intolerance in India since Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata party swept to power in 2014.The reaction of authorities to the protests at JNU – which is well known for its politically active student body and strongly disliked by the Hindu right – comes against a background of what critics say is rising intolerance in India since Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata party swept to power in 2014.
The government has repeatedly been accused of seeking to repress free speech and encouraging extremist nationalists who systematically intimidate critics. Some independent commentators and legal experts have criticised the Modi government for exploiting the colonial-era sedition law to silence its opponents.The government has repeatedly been accused of seeking to repress free speech and encouraging extremist nationalists who systematically intimidate critics. Some independent commentators and legal experts have criticised the Modi government for exploiting the colonial-era sedition law to silence its opponents.
Soli Sorabjee, a former attorney general, deplored Kumar’s arrest. He told Reuters: “Any critical comment against government policy does not amount to sedition. Only acts that can disturb law and order or incite violence can be stamped as sedition.”Soli Sorabjee, a former attorney general, deplored Kumar’s arrest. He told Reuters: “Any critical comment against government policy does not amount to sedition. Only acts that can disturb law and order or incite violence can be stamped as sedition.”
Modi’s party rejected the criticism. “The constitution is clear that freedom of speech does not extend to the right to promote secession; slogans that demand the disintegration of India cannot be condoned,” said MJ Akbar, a BJP spokesman.Modi’s party rejected the criticism. “The constitution is clear that freedom of speech does not extend to the right to promote secession; slogans that demand the disintegration of India cannot be condoned,” said MJ Akbar, a BJP spokesman.