On Sunday afternoon, two groups of students fought on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in Delhi, purportedly over meat served in the dormitory canteen on Ram Navami.
Six students were hurt in the incident, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. in the Kaveri hostel.
Moreover, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members allegedly assaulted the mess secretary and prevented the staff from serving meat dishes in the hostel, according to the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU).
The JNUSU claimed that members of the ABVP used “muscle power and goondaism” to stir up trouble in the mess. According to the news source, “They were forcing and attacking the mess committee to change the dinner menu and exclude the usual non-vegetarian items from it for all students.”
Meanwhile, the ABVP, the student branch of the BJP’s ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, responded by claiming that members of left-wing organisations attempted to prevent a Pooja from being held at the dormitory.
However, both sides have accused the other of throwing stones at their members and wounding them.
Police dispatched in JNU
Moreover, the cops have been dispatched to the university.
“There is no violence as of now. A protest was held which is over. We are all positioned here with our team. At the request of the university, we have come here. We are trying to maintain peace,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Manoj C said.
“JNU and its hostels are meant to be inclusive spaces for all and not one particular section,” it added.
Moreover, few students are still demonstrating in the area surrounding the university.
“In the afternoon today, a message went viral on social media that ABVP members are not allowing non-veg food inside the campus. The mess usually prepares non-veg food items on weekends. However, ABVP members did not let this food be prepared,” a JNU student Sarika told news sources.
