Student groups clash at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

New Delhi, February 10

Student groups at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) clashed with each other on Friday night during a meeting on holding students’ union elections.

Left-backed and RSS-backed student organisations engaged in a scuffle, with both sides claiming injuries to their members.

Warring members blame each other

• Left-affiliated Democratic Students’ Federation alleged Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad members obstructed the UGBM by encroaching upon the dais and heckling council members and speakers.
• The Students’ Federation of India claimed that JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh was attacked by ABVP members
• The right-wing students’ group alleged ABVP-JNU secretary Vikas Patel was attacked by DSF activists

The incident occurred during the University General Body Meeting (UGBM) convened at Sabarmati hostel at 9.30 pm on Friday to elect members of the election commission for the upcoming polls.

Left-affiliated Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF) alleged that Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members obstructed the UGBM by encroaching upon the dais and heckling council members and speakers.

Videos of the altercation circulated widely on social media, depicting heated arguments, shouting matches, slogans and physical clashes among students.

“In response to the JNU administration’s announcement of the start of the JNUSU elections for 2024, the ABVP has teamed up with the administration to obstruct the UGBM called by the students and halt the democratic process initiated for the conduct of JNUSU election 2024,” the DSF said.

Condemning the incident, Aishe Ghosh, SFI Delhi president, posted on X, “So much in the name of democracy! Akhil Bharatiya Vanar Parishad hijacking and disrupting the University General Body Meeting held for upcoming elections for JNU Students’ Union! Reject hooliganism!”

However, Ghosh did not respond to any calls or text messages when contacted.

ABVP JNU secretary Vikas Patel countered, alleging that Left organisations sought to exclude ABVP activists from participating in the UGBM. He emphasised ABVP’s commitment to fairness, rule adherence and equal representation in elections.

In a statement, the ABVP criticised Aishe, claiming she contested elections on behalf of the CPI(M) in the Jamuria Assembly of Bengal and, upon defeat, returned to JNU to assert herself as the president.

The ABVP alleged that their members, including Prafulla Kumar, Kanhaiya Kumar, Pushkar, Ankesh Bhati, Vikas Patel, Prashanto Bagchi and others, were severely assaulted during the altercation.