Mamata voices concern over probe into IIT Kanpur students' anti-CAA rally

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday voiced concern over formation of a panel to probe into alleged 'communal statements' of IIT Kanpur students made at a recent rally re against changes in Citizenship Act. Banerjee voiced concern while expressing "solidarity" with students protesting against Citizenship (Amendment) Act and proposed creation of a National Register fo Citizens.

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Mamata Banerjee on IIT Kanpur students

"Sad and deeply concerned to kw about what is happening with Kanpur IIT students who expressed solidarity with JMI and AMU students over CAA and NRC," Banerjee wrote on her Facebook p.

Banerjee also asserted that everyone has right to express oneself in a in a democratic country.

"I understand that a committee has been constituted against students who participated in a protest march. In a democratic country, everyone has right to express oneself," she said.

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IIT-Kanpur students had held a peaceful march at campus protesting amended citizenship law and proposed NRC and had also condemned police action against Jamia Millia students on New Delhi. After rally, an IIT-Kanpur professor lodged a complaint against students for allegedly raising "anti-India" and "communal" slogans. IIT-Kanpur administration on Saturday had formed a panel to look into complaint. Banerjee, who has emerged as a strident critic of CAA and proposed NRC, said such an attempt to "throttle voice of students" of academic excellence is an "unwelcome" effort.

"Any intimidation or curbs to throttle voice of students, that too in a centre of academic excellence, is most unwelcome. We express our solidarity with student community in ir protest against CAA and NRC," she said.

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Banerjee on Monday had described current situation arising out of protests in country against CAA and proposed NRC as "serious" and written to all n-BJP parties urging m to unite against "draconian regime" of Central government.

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