Our volunteers carried out JNU attack, Hindu outfit chief claims

New Delhi: A fringe right-wing group ‘Hindu Raksha Dal’ on Tuesday took responsibility for the recent attack by masked assailants on students and faculty members of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

The little-known right-wing group was earlier in the news for its condemnation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders. The outfit said some AAP members had remarked against Hindu deities, which was not acceptable to them.

In January, 2014, Hindu Raksha Dal national convenor Pinki Chaudhary was arrested after an FIR was lodged against him, along with 30-40 unknown persons, in connection with an attack on AAP office.

The activists of Hindu Raksha Dal had attacked AAP’s Kaushambi office to protest party leader Prashant Bhushan’s remarks on referendum in Kashmir. Around 40 activists of Hindu Raksha Dal tore party posters and smashed the doors of the office in the attack.

In an interview with Gulf News, Hindu Raksha Dal leader Pinki Chaudhary said he and his team members carried out the brutal assault on January 5, which left more than 35 persons injured in the university campus.

GULF NEWS: You have claimed responsibility for the attack on JNU students and faculty members. What made you do that?

PINKI CHAUDHARY: Jawaharlal Nehru University is a hub of Communists and a hotbed of anti-national activities. The students there have been associated with violent and separatist activities for several years. As a nationalist outfit, we cannot afford to tolerate this. I take full responsibility of what happened in JNU on Sunday.

Who were the people who carried out the attack?

All those who carried out the attack in JNU were volunteers of Hindu Raksha Dal. We know the identity of our team members who did this. Anyone who cannot do such work for the sake of Mother India does not have the right to live in this country. Patriotism demands this.

What is your take on students of JNU?

A: They always indulge in anti-national activities. They also speak against Hindus and Hindu identity. We, as a nationalist Hindu organisation, cannot allow them to succeed in their separatist agenda. We will not tolerate anyone who speaks against our religion or our country.

Does that mean you will attack anyone who speaks against your ideology?

Yes, we are ready to sacrifice our lives for Mother India. Those who resort to anti-national activities anywhere in the country will be treated in the same fashion.

What is your exact grievance against JNU students?

They live in our country, eat here, get their education here and then indulge in anti-national activities. They abuse our religion and country everyday.

Many believe you took the responsibility for the attack to deflect allegations against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-linked students’ group Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

No, it is not true. Our volunteers carried out the attack and we are proud of it. Hindu Raksha Dal takes full responsibility for the attack. In future, we will carry out similar action in other universities also if any student or faculty member is found to be indulging in anti-national activities.