CPI(M) criticises registration of sedition case against Sitaram Yechury

NEW DELHI: CPI(M) today condemned registration of a sedition case against party general secretary Sitaram Yechury and other opposition leaders over the JNU row as it raised concerns over the manner in which the sedition clause is being used.

"The politburo of CPI(M) condemns registeration of a case of sedition against Yechury and other opposition leaders. It demands withdrawal of the case against the leaders and all others named in the FIR," the party said in a statement.

The Left party further raised concerns over the "manner in which" sedition clause (124A of IPC) is being used in the country and said the same underlines the necessity for scrapping the section.

"The politburo warns the Central Government to desist from actions which suppress democratic rights and freedom in the country by branding dissent and opposition as anti-national," the CPI(M) added.

An FIR has been registered against Yechury, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, party leaders Anand Sharma and Ajay Maken, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, CPI national secretary D Raja, JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and the university research scholar Umar Khalid on the order of a Hyderabad court based on a complaint filed by lawyer Janardhan Goud.

Goud had filed a complaint in the court of a metropolitan magistrate on Thursday seeking a direction to police for registration of a case against Kanhaiya and Khalid for allegedly raising anti-India and pro-Afzal Guru slogans on JNU campus.

In his petition, Goud said he had every right to question those engaging in anti-national activities and also ones encouraging anti-nationals facing sedition charges.