Zee Media Bureau/Himanshu Kapoor
Meerut: Sedition charges slapped on Kashmiri students in Meerut by Uttar Pradesh Government for allegedly cheering the Pakistani cricket team`s win against India, were dropped on Thursday evening after voices for the withdrawal of charges grew.
Swami Vivekananda Subharti University in Meerut expelled 67 Kashmiri students from the hostel after they had allegedly supported Pakistan cricket team against India in the Asia Cup match between the two sides and shouted slogans "Pakistan zindabad" on Sunday last weekend.
The students were booked under section 124 A (sedition), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 427 (mischief) of IPC after a compaint by University Chancellor PK Garg.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that slapping of sedition charges was "unacceptably harsh punishment", adding that the students did not commit any illegal act.
After the withdrawal of the charges, Abdullah wrote on the micro-blogging site Twitter, "Very glad that the UP government dropped sedition charges against the students," adding that he is thankful to UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for his intervention.
Also, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had said that the charges against the students should be dropped, demanding that the UP government and the university apologise to them.
Talking to reporter, PDP spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar said that such action against the Kashmiri students reflects a fascist mindset and discriminatory attitude towards Kashmiri students.
"VIPs like Prime Ministers or Presidents have in the past attended India-Pakistan matches and applauded the rival team`s performance. That time we project it as tolerance and friendship and for Kashmiri students, the same act becomes sedition," he said, as quoted by PTI.
After the management suspended all 67 Kashmiri students residing in the hostel, they were forced to vacate the hostel and asked to return to their homes in Jammu and Kashmir, said some protesting students.
