JNU rape row: AISA expels accused leader, demands his suspension

New Delhi, Aug. 23 (ANI): After expelling fellow party leader Anmol Ratan, who was facing charges of rape by a student, the All India Students' Association (AISA) president, Sucheta De, said they have also demanded that he be suspended by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration. De told ANI here that the incident was extremely humiliating for the university and to AISA, adding that AISA is adamant and resolute on taking severe action against accused, who is a leading activist from their party. "This is very humiliating. We are not going to spare any effort to ensure the accused is taken action upon. It does not matter that he is from our party. We have also offered every help possible to the victim," De said. Hitting out at the protests, mostly by the ABVP, against the incident, De said they did not care about what happened and were solely fighting from a political slant. The AISA had released a statement earlier announcing their decision to expel Ratan from the party and that they will reflect on and deal with it with the firmness it deserves. "AISA takes serious note of the fact that Anmol Ratan, a leading activist of AISA, is facing a criminal complaint of sexual assault. He is henceforth expelled from the primary membership of AISA. The fact that a leading activist of ours is accused of sexual violence, calls for serious introspection and re-invigorating the process of sensitisation against sexual violence within and outside the organisation," the statement said. Asserting that the fight against sexual violence does not rest only on battles, the party further said that AISA will be unflinching for its principles of gender justice, even if it involves a leading member of the organisation. "We stand by the complainant and will extend all possible support in her fight for justice. The university must take disciplinary action against the accused," the party said. JNU was rocked with fresh controversy when a PhD scholar was allegedly raped by a fellow student on Saturday. The police said that an FIR had been lodged and her statement under CrPC Section 164 would be recorded on Monday. An FIR under sections of rape and criminal intimidation has been registered against Ratan. (ANI)