Lawyers defend themselves, say JNU mob attacked journalists
New Delhi: Some lawyers, caught on camera beating up journalists, students and teachers of JNU at the Patiala House court complex, on Monday claimed a mob of students had resorted to the violence and not the advocates.
Alleging that the scribes were beaten up by JNU students, these lawyers also sought the arrest of the students and questioned the police for not taking any action against them.
Advocate Yashpal Tyagi, who was caught on camera during the attack, told a press conference that their fight against "anti-nationals will continue" and "they would not tolerate anything said or done against the country".
At the press conference held in the Kakardooma district court where various bar leaders were also present, the lawyers claimed the JNU students, and not the advocates, had assaulted journalists in the Patiala House court complex on February 15 and 17, when jailed JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar was being produced in connection with the sedition case.
The lawyers also claimed that there was no complaint or evidence against them and the mob of students had indulged in the violence.
Advocate Mahesh Sharma, President of Shahdara Bar Association, said lawyers are well educated and "calling them goons and criminals is defamatory". The lawyers said they were in the process of filing defamation case against three news channels for allegedly calling them goons.
Vikram Singh Chauhan, who was caught on camera assaulting journalists and others in the court premises, was also present at the conference. He was one of the three lawyers summoned by the Delhi Police in connection with the February 15 attack.
Advocate Om Sharma, who was arrested and granted bail on February 21 by the police for allegedly instigating the attack on journalists and students in the Patiala House, was also present at the press conference.