Congress' P Chidambaram lashes out at AAP government for its sanction to prosecute Kanhaiya Kumar

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday threw brickbats at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for its authorization to try former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and nine others in connection with a sedition case, stating that the Kejriwal dispensation is "no less ill-informed than the Centre" in its understanding of the sedition law.

The Delhi government has given the nod to the city police to prosecute former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and nine others in relation to a four-year-old sedition case, as the ruling AAP turned down the constant BJP accusation of hindering the proceedings in the matter.

"Delhi Government is no less ill-informed than the central government in its understanding of sedition law," Chidambaram tweeted.

"I strongly disapprove of the sanction granted to prosecute Mr Kanhaiya Kumar and others for alleged offences under sections 124A and 120B of IPC," the former home minister said.

The Delhi Police had in 2019 registered the charge sheet at a city court against Kanhaiya Kumar and others, stating that he was leading a procession and raised seditious slogans at an event in 2016.

It also charged former JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya for allegedly raising anti-national slogans during the event to mark the execution of Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru.

The prosecution order was given almost a year after a city court asked the Delhi government to take a decision within a rational timeframe and pointed out that the delay was leading to contravention of the due process of law.

Also Read: Kapil Sibal recalls Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s advice to PM Modi after BJP attacks Congress on ‘Rajdharma’

Also Read: Delhi HC issues notice to police, centre on plea seeking FIRs against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka, Asaduddin Owaisi