After SC order, BJP: Protection of genuine students, not rioters
The Supreme Court's interim order on petitions related to protests over the alleged NEET paper leak draws a clear distinction between genuine student protesters and those involved in violence, said the National Spokesperson for the BJP Shehzaad Poonawalla on Tuesday, July 28. He stressed that while "dissent is okay, danga (riot) is not".
The remarks came after the Supreme Court directed authorities not to take coercive action against protesters while continuing investigation in FIRs and meanwhile, release those under 18 years of age if they have no past criminal records. It also asked authorities to preserve electronic and digital evidence relating to the recent nationwide agitation over the NEET paper leak.
"The allegations prima facie warrant consideration of a fair and independent probe, which must also address the concerns of families of over 200 injured police personnel," a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed while hearing a batch of petitions alleging police brutality during the demonstrations.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzaad Poonawalla said "SC has weighed in very maturely and sensitively. It must be welcomed by all," in a post on X.
Poonawalla asserted that the Union government is already committed to ensuring that no cases are pursued against genuine protesters. "But cases will continue for arsonists. There can be no blanket suraksha kawach (protection shield) for those who assault, molest, etc with established criminal records," he added.
The bench, also including Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed that all states where the protests were held they shall preserve all the CCTV footage, drone recordings, body-camera footage, wireless communication records, PCR logs and other digital evidence pertaining to the protests.
It also ordered that any digital data collected on protesters be preserved but not brought into the public domain.
