During a union general body meeting on holding students’ union votes, the RSS-affiliated ABVP and Left-backed groups got into a fight late on Friday night at the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus. Both sides claimed that several of their members had been injured. Although the opposing factions attributed the disturbance to the other, the JNU administration did not respond right away.
During the University General Body Meeting (UGBM) in the Sabarmati Dhaba on campus, which was held to choose members of the Election Commission for the JNUSU polls in 2024, there were conflicts between the student factions.
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FIGHT BROKE OUT AMONG THE TWO FACTIONS DURING THE UNION GENERAL BODY MEETING
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was accused by the left-leaning Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF) of obstructing the UGBM by invading the dias and jeering speakers and council members.
Members of the JNU students’ union and the ABVP can be seen fighting in footage posted by both organizations on social media. University security officers are trying to maintain order while the protestors shout and chant.
“Following the declaration by the JNU Administration that the JNUSU elections for 2023–2024 would begin. The ABVP has joined forces with the administration to block the student-called UGBM. They tried to put an end to the democratic process that was started to conduct the JNUSU election 2024,” the DSF stated in a statement.
According to the Students’ Federation of India, amid the disturbance, ABVP students attacked JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh and threw water at her.
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“ABVP lumens blatantly insulted and heckled JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh. They can throw water on a woman. Such despicable actions against a female student must not go unpunished, according to a statement. Ghosh was contacted via texts and phone calls regarding the allegation, but no answer was received.
The right-wing student organization claimed that DSF activists had attacked ABVP member Vikas Patel. They claimed that to settle personal scores during the commotion, Prashanto Bagchi, another student, was thrashed. The ABVP claimed that Prafulla, an MA final-year student, was attacked with a sharp object.
Additionally, it stated that Divya Prakash, a PWD BA Persian student, was assaulted by members of Divya Prakash organizations because of her support of ABVP.
The ABVP issued a statement in which it shifted the blame for the disturbance to Left-wing organizations. It said, “Today, the all-party convened a University General Body Meeting organized at Sabarmati ground at 9.30 pm. JNUSU initially hurled racist epithets at the microphone and sound crew because they did not want ABVP to take part in the UGBM.”
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“The employees withdrew after feeling degraded. But after speaking with them, ABVP activists persuaded them to keep the microphone and sound equipment in place. Upon realizing that the UGBM would occur anyway, the Left-led parties, including AISA, SFI, DSF, and numerous more, attempted to disrupt the GBM. However, all of the ABVP’s strategies were ineffective. Finally, they began to beat activists for the ABVP,” it continued.
POLICE RESPONSE TO THE FIGHT
The Delhi police stated that they are investigating the situation and are in communication with the JNU administration, adding that they have only received one complaint from the ABVP thus far. A police spokesperson said that a PCR call was received by the Vasant Kunj North Police Station at 12.30 am. Police arrived at the university gate, but they did not go into the grounds.
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“At 1:30 in the morning, the security personnel from the main gate made a PCR call. A group approached the gate but stayed outside. In GBM, there was a fight. We are looking into the problem and communicating with the JNU administration,” the official stated.
“A complaint has been made by the ABVP. As of right present, no objections (have been received) from the JNUSU side,” he continued.
At the Sabarmati Dhaba on campus, a sizable contingent of students had assembled to vote for the UGBM’s EC members. To begin the UGBM process, the JNUSU gathered a quorum earlier on Friday, which consists of student signatures, or one-tenth of the university’s total enrollment.
