Express News Service By

NEW DELHI: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, who rushed to the support of JNU students, may not be aware that the UPA government led by his party had placed the Democratic Students’ Union under the watch list, terming it a front that provides safe havens for Naxalites and mentors new cadres. DSU is alleged to have organi­sed the ‘anti-India’ event on February 9 at JNU.

In what could be embarrassing for the Congress, the UPA government had told Parliament about DSU in 2014, saying such front organisations were mentoring ‘professional revolutionaries’ to be inducted into underground movements. On February 18, 2014, MoS Home Affairs RPN Singh told Parliament that DSU and other front organisations were shifting to urban areas looking for safe hideouts.

“On occasion, during operations by security forces, the CPI (Maoist) underground cadres shift to softer areas including urban areas looking for safe hideouts. On such occasions, the over-ground front organisations provide safe hideouts to armed cadres,” Singh had said in response to a question in Lok Sabha. In the Home Ministry’s list of active CPI Maoists front organisations, DSU is mentioned as ‘active in Bihar, Delhi and Jharkhand’. RPN Singh also told Parliament that activities of the CPI (Maoist) and its front organisations were being closely monitored.

In an earlier response in 2011, the UPA had told Parliament that front organisations were being monitored. “The front organisations facilitate procurement of supplies to Maoist war machinery and initiate legal action on various issues to slow down the enforcement regime. They are also adept at dissemination of propaganda and disinformation to demonise the state and security forces.”