Campus shouldn't be used for political agitation: Venkaiah Naidu

Chennai: Union parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu lashed out at the opposition left and the Congress and said temples of learning should not be misused to launch political agitations.

Referring to the JNU students' agitation, Mr Naidu told reporters here on Sunday that both the RSS and the ABVP are not political organisations and they “don't change shoes”.

“College or university is like a temple. When we enter temple we leave our shoes outside because temple is sacred. When we come out we should not change shoes. Education campus should not be used to launch political agitations,” the senior BJP leader who was in the city said.

Taking a dig at former Union home minister P. Chidambaram for finding fault with the hanging of Afzal Guru in the Parliament attack case, Mr Naidu said, “The former home minister, supposed to be the most intelligent person in Congress party finds fault with Supreme Court. Perhaps Afzal Guru's hanging was not a correct decision.”

Quoting anti-Indian slogans allegedly raised in JNU, Naidu said "they say justice is not done to Afzal Guru as if he is their Guru. They are expressing solidarity with the people who are raising slogans like Maqbool Bhat Zindabad, how can anybody express solidarity with such people and that is the question."

He said Mr Chidambaram was either "trying to act smart or trying to pose himself as champion of minorities." Such statements from a former Home Minister and senior Congress leader would further embolden anti nationals.

Defending HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who is under attack over her statement on Rohith issue, Mr naidu said his party would counter if the Opposition moves a privilege motion against her.