While speaking with The Pioneer’s Rahiba R Parveen, Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) joint secretary and member of the ABVP Saurabh Sharma made revelation about the controversial February 9 event, which has sparked a series of protests and couter-protests across the country. The excerpts:

 Was this the first time that an event to commemorate Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s hanging was organised in JNUIJ

* This was not the first time. Since 2013 when he was executed such kind of events have been organised by students. We always objected to it but this time we saw the posters which mentioned that they were planning something big outside the Sabarmati Hostel. It alarmed us. Earlier they would organise it in the mess and conduct the event after dinner.

 What made you call the mediaIJ

* I did not call the media on purpose but after I took photocopy of the poster to complain to the Vice Chancellor's office. I didn't get a positive feedback. Only the Registrar assured me that action would be taken. I sent out messages to mobilise people in the media and elsewhere.

 Can you briefly recall February 9 incident. What happenedIJ

* The programme started around 6 pm. They were about 15 students near Sabarmati Hostel and by the time they reached Ganga Dhaba, the number had increased to 40. As they began shouting slogans, we also shouted pro-India slogans and tried to stop them at each point. We tried to make a human chain as well but they didn’t stop. The confrontation between the two groups turned aggressive but we maintained our calm.

 Did Kanhaiya shout anti-India slogansIJ

* Yes, I heard and saw all the people present there shouted anti-India slogans.

 Were there outsidersIJ

* I can’t say whether there were people from outside JNU or not but I can say that the people in masks were not the known faces. They could be from first year batch with whom we haven’t interacted or people from outside. At least, 15 faces were unknown.

 Do you think it could have been settled by the administration and police involvement was not requiredIJ

* It was not a matter between the two students’ group but they had shouted slogans about breaking India. It was important to get police involved. But the way entire issue was politicised is condemnable.

 Do you know Kanhaiya, Umar Khalid or any other students personallyIJ

* I do not know Umer Khalid and others but I interacted a lot with Kanhaiya as the office bearer of JNUSU. We ate and had tea together. It was a good interaction. I didn’t feel him to be an anti-national. When I saw him that day, I was shocked.

 There are rumours that ABVP is going to file a police complaint against teachers for sheltering the students on campusIJ Is it trueIJ

* We have not filed any police complaint yet. I read in a Hindi newspaper that Umar and Anirban Bhattacharya have confessed that they were hinding at a professor’s place. We will approach the Vice Chancellor and ask him to enquire it. It will be after that we will go to police.