New Delhi: Amid those caught on camera beating up students, journalists and teachers at a Delhi court was OP Sharma, a state legislator from the BJP.
The politician said today that outside court, he heard a man shouting pro-Pakistan cheers. He said he was hit first and then retaliated. "I got hurt on the head...if someone hits me or strikes my head, then shouldn't I hit back?" he said today, alleging that his retribution was "a natural act".
Mr Sharma can be seen in photos and video footage thrashing a Left activist in violence that erupted before Kanhaiya Kumar, a student leader at the Jawaharlal Nehru University or JNU, was brought to court. Mr Kumar was arrested last week on charges of sedition, which has united the opposition and students and faculty at the prestigious university against the government, which is being accused of crushing dissent.
For days, thousands of students have been protesting at JNU against the arrest of Mr Kumar, 28, and the police search on campus that preceded it.
The government and the police say that evidence gathered shows Mr Kumar and other students shouting slogans against India and defending terrorist Afzal Guru, who was hanged three years ago.
Opposition leaders and some legal experts have pointed out that sedition charges cannot apply unless an attempt was made to incite violence.
The politician said today that outside court, he heard a man shouting pro-Pakistan cheers. He said he was hit first and then retaliated. "I got hurt on the head...if someone hits me or strikes my head, then shouldn't I hit back?" he said today, alleging that his retribution was "a natural act".
BJP legislator OP Sharma said that he was targeted first outside the court and hit back in retaliation.
The government and the police say that evidence gathered shows Mr Kumar and other students shouting slogans against India and defending terrorist Afzal Guru, who was hanged three years ago.
Advertisement
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
RSS-Linked Books Mandated In Madhya Pradesh Colleges, Opposition Sees Red BJP Sweeps Panchayat Elections In Tripura Man Held For Rape Attempt In UP, BJP Claims He's Linked To Samajwadi Party Rahul Gandhi's Seat At Red Fort Triggers Fresh Congress Attack On BJP "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP Most Of Landslide-Hit Chooralmala In Wayanad Safe Now, Says Scientist In A 1st, All Women India, Bangladesh Border Troops Share I-Day Greetinge Kim Dotcom To Be Extradited From New Zealand After 12-Year Fight With US Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.