Amnesty demands repeal of sedition law, JNU alumni support Kanhaiya

Patna: More than 500 JNU alumni and academics have signed a statement in support of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar demanding his immediate release and withdrawal of charges against him. Amnesty International India has also initiated a campaign to send an online petition (signed by more than 1000 people so far) to Union home minister Rajnath Singh requesting him to repeal the sedition law.More than 5000 cultural activists, intellectuals and students are expected to gather in Patna on March 3 to discuss 'Save JNU, Save Democracy and Save Nation'.
The Amnesty International India petition reads: "The sedition law is excessively vague and broad, making it an easy tool to stifle dissent and debate. There is no good way to apply Section 124A. It does not comply with international human rights law. It violates the right to freedom of expression under the Constitution. And it goes against India's tradition of tolerance. We urge you (Union home minister) to repeal this abusive law."
"JNUSU president (Kanhaiya) and DU professor SAR Geelani in detention under a law which deserves no place in India. Section 124A of the IPC, which defines the offence of 'sedition', is a colonial-era relic. It was enacted by the British to repress India's independence struggle," the petition said.
A joint statement signed by more than 500 academics from universities abroad reads, "JNU stands for a vital imagination of the space of the university - an imagination that embraces critical thinking, democratic dissent, student activism, and the plurality of political beliefs. As teachers, students, and scholars across the world, we are watching with extreme concern the situation unfolding at JNU and refuse to remain silent as our colleagues (students, staff, and faculty) resist the illegal detention and autocratic suspension of students."
JNUSU president was arrested early this month on sedition charge for allegedly participating in an event on the campus organized against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Anti-India slogans were allegedly raised during the event.
The signatories include Jairus Banaji (SOAS London), Edward Anderson (Cambridge), Nandita Badami (California), Aparna Balachandran (DU), Punnu Arasu (Toronto), Subho Basu (McGill University) and V Bhaskar (Texas).