Delhi campus on edge after clashes
Classes suspended at Ramjas after about 20 students and at least one teacher were injured
Amid tension after clashes between students over an invitation to Jawahalal Nehru University’s (JNU) student leader Umar Khalid to address a seminar, classes remained suspended at Delhi University’s (DU) Ramjas College yesterday with police registering a rioting case against those involved in violence.
“This is the national capital, we will not tolerate this. An inquiry has been set up under a senior police officer to look into reports of inappropriate and unprofessional action of some policemen. We don’t condone such action,” Joint Commissioner of Police Dipendra Pathak told Gulf News.
About 20 students and at least one teacher were injured on Wednesday in clashes with activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), an outfit backed by Hindu fundamentalist outfit Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).
Some journalists were also caught up in the melee.
The invitation to Khalid was scrapped after ABVP activists barged into the college, locked up the auditorium and cut off power. Khalid was accused of sedition last year.
Student leaders of the Leftbacked All India Students Association (AISA) protested against Delhi Police and ABVP yesterday.
The ABVP, however, denied attacking protesters or even forcing the college to cancel its invite to Khalid. “The college students and teachers didn’t want Umar Khalid,” ABVP leader Abhishek Verma told Gulf News.
Meanwhile, JNU student leader Shehla Rashid alleged violence by ABVP activists. “We were attacked, the cops did nothing. Our students were bleeding. They hurled bricks at us. They pulled the hair of women,” Rashid told media.
Reacting to the incident, Khalid said: “Only a few would have heard me had I spoken at Ramjas College. Now, the whole country is hearing me. The Delhi Police has not been able to file a charge sheet against me and they say I am an anti-national and I have links with terrorist groups.”