CENTRE SEEKS REPORT ON JNU VIOLENCE

NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) on Tuesday demanded a judicial probe into the violence on campus over a havan and nonvegetarian food on hotel mess menu on the occasion of Ram Navami on Sunday, even as the Union education ministry sought a report from the university over the incident. At least 16 students were injured after two groups of students belonging to Left-affiliated outfits and ABVP allegedly clashed in Kaveri hostel mess on Sunday evening. While the Leftwing students alleged that ABVP members assaulted students after objecting to non-vegetarian food on mess menu, ABVP has maintained that Leftist students disrupted a havan organised on Ram Navmi at the hostel.

The JNU teachers association also issued a statement on Tuesday, expressing concern over the statement issued by the registrar on Monday, which, according to them, gave a “communal colour” to the incident. In the statement over the incident, the registrar said some students tried to disrupt a havan organised at the Kaveri Hostel, and advised all students exercise restraint. “To give a communal dimension to the whole incident, when none existed, by none other than the registrar himself, is most unfortunate. Moreover, the registrar seems to have already passed a judgment without any enquiry...,” JNUTA said in a statement.

A JNUSU delegation on Tuesday approached the VC to put forth their demands seeking an independent judicial enquiry but could not meet her. The student body was asked to place a formal appointment request for a meeting with the VC which is likely to take place on Wednesday.

JNU VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the JNU registrar could not be contacted.