New Delhi

Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement that the JNU event of marking parliament attack convict terrorist Afzal Guru’s death anniversary had received “support” from terror outfit LeT founder Hafiz Saeed was based on inputs from “different agencies”, a Home Ministry spokesperson said today.

“Statement of the Home Minister is based on the inputs available from different agencies,” a Home Ministry spokesperson said without elaborating.

Earlier in the day, the Home Minister said in Allahabad that the event on JNU campus in Delhi against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru had received “support” from Saeed.

Singh said the truth is that the Jawaharlal Nehru University event received support from Saeed, who is chief of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), needed to be understood by the nation.

“The incident (Afzal event in which anti-India slogans were chanted) at JNU has received support from Hafiz Saeed. This is a truth that the nation needs to understand,” Singh said, adding, “what has happened is very unfortunate.”

JNU stir got support from Saeed, nation needs to understand this: Rajnath

Allahabad

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that the JNU stir received support from Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and this needs to be understood by the nation even as he asked political parties not to view such protests through the prism of political gains or losses.

“The incident at JNU has received support from Hafiz Saeed. This is a truth that the nation needs to understand,” Singh said, adding, “What has happened is very unfortunate.”

“Never should have something been done which puts a question mark over the country’s sovereignty and integrity. On such occasions, the entire country should be speaking in one voice. I would also appeal all political parties not to view such episodes through the prism of political gains and losses,” Singh told reporters here.

Asked about the investigation regarding the JNU incident, he said, “Necessary instructions have been given (to the authorities concerned). I have made one thing clear that those who are found guilty should face action but the ones who are not, should not be harassed at any cost.”

Responding to questions on the arrest of JNU Student’s Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and allegations that he may have been falsely implicated, the Home Minister said, “We should allow the investigation to take place unhindered. The police must have acted on the basis of some evidence.”

His comments came two days after a series of tweets, purportedly by Saeed, had appeared under a hashtag asking Pakistanis to support the agitation in JNU.

Police are investigating as to whether the twitter handle actually belonged to the LeT founder.

Later, Delhi Police had issued an alert through the official twitter handle of the Commissioner’s office saying, “This is to alert and sensitise the student community in JNU and across the country. Do not get carried away by such seditious anti-national rhetoric. Abetment of any kind of anti-national activity is a punishable offence.” (More) PTI NAC DEY

In the alert, Delhi Police had also pinned a tweet by the handle named HafeezSaeedJUD which says, “We request our Pakistani brothers to trend #SupportJNU for our pro-Pakistani JNUite brothers.’

The Home Minister was in the city on a brief visit, to meet West Bengal Governor and senior party colleague Keshri Nath Tripathi and condole the death of his wife who passed away a fortnight ago while undergoing treatment at the AIIMS, New Delhi.

Singh said, “Whosoever targets the unity, sovereignty and integrity of the nation or tries to cause hurt at a scale which affects the country’s honour will not be forgiven at all.”

He later tweeted, “I appeal to all organisations and the political parties to stand united on issues pertaining to unity, sovereignty & integrity of the country.”

The Home Minister said, “Those involved in anti-India activities or propaganda will not be spared and those who are innocent will not be harassed.”

He also tweeted, “I seek cooperation and support from all political parties & people from all walks of life to join hands in fight against anti-national forces.”

On Tuesday, an event was held inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, following which a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy was registered and the JNUSU president was arrested.

The police have formed teams which are looking for 13 other students for their alleged involvement in the event.

On Friday, Singh had warned of “strongest possible” action against those involved in raising anti-India slogans during the event.

“If anyone raises anti-India slogans, tries to raise questions on country’s unity and integrity, they will not be spared. Stringent action will be taken against them,” he had told reporters here.

The Home Minister had said he asked Delhi Police to take “strongest possible action” against those who were allegedly involved in anti-India acts in JNU.

With inputs from PTI