The police have been called to the campus.
New Delhi:
Two groups of students clashed on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on Sunday afternoon over alleged serving of meat in the hostel canteen on the occasion of Ram Navami.
The incident took place at Kaveri Hostel at 3.30 pm.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) has alleged that Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members assaulted the mess secretary and prevented the staff from serving meat dishes in the hostel.
Opposing this, the ABVP, the student wing of the BJP’s ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, claimed that members of Left organizations tried to stop them from holding a puja in the hostel.
Both sides have accused each other of pelting stones and injuring their members.
The police have been called to the campus.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police said, “So far there has been no violence. A protest was held which is over. We are all posted here with our team. We have come here on the request of the university. We try to maintain peace. are doing.” (south-west) said news agency PTI, quoting Manoj C.
JNUSU further alleged that ABVP used “muscle power and hooliganism” to create ruckus.
“They were attacking the mess committee for changing the dinner menu for all the students and excluding normal non-vegetarian items in it,” the student body said in a statement.
It said, “JNU and its hostels are all inclusive places and not for any one section.”
ABVP has rejected the allegations of JNUSU.
On the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, at 3.30 pm, some common students had organized a puja and havan program in Kauvery hostel.
“Common students of JNU attended the puja in large numbers. Leftists came to protest, obstructed the puja and prevented the puja from being held. They created false ruckus on the issue of ‘right to food’ (non-vegetarian food),” he said. .
Reports said that several student protesters were injured and shifted to nearby hospitals.
Some students are still protesting around the campus.
“This afternoon, a message went viral on social media that ABVP members are not allowing non-vegetarian food inside the premises. The mess usually prepares non-vegetarian food on weekends. However, the ABVP members did not allow this meal. Ready,” JNU student Sarika told news agency ANI.