Jamia students clash on campus during Diwali celebrations

A scuffle broke out on the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia on Tuesday evening during Diwali festivities organised by the BJP's student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), officials said on Wednesday.

The disturbance took place when two groups clashed during a 'rangoli' event held on the occasion of Diwali. The police were deployed outside the campus on Tuesday night.

“The incident occurred around 7.30-8 pm near Gate 7. A group of students affiliated with the ABVP were putting up 'diyas' and making 'rangolis' for Diwali, which displeased another group of students. The other group wrecked the decorations, which led to a scuffle. Both sides engaged in sloganeering,” said DCP (South East) Ravi Kumar.

The situation was eventually controlled when security personnel stepped in.

“On Tuesday evening, during the Deepotsav programme being organised in Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, the students of Jamia were chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai and the programme was going on peacefully,” said Abhishek Shrivastava, president of ABVP, Jamia.

He alleged that some miscreants from outside came at the venue at around 8 pm and broke the Deepotsav lamps, vandalised 'rangoli' and started beating up students participating in the Deepotsav.

“ABVP strongly condemns the violence and radical thinking that marred the peaceful event at Jamia Millia Islamia University. The campus is for all students, raising anti-national and radical slogans in Jamia is not acceptable. ABVP demands from the Jamia administration and Delhi Police that strict action should be taken against the radicals and sectarian fanatics who indulged in violence during Deepotsav,” he further added.

Meanwhile, the Students' Federation of India (SFI), Jamia Millia Islamia, condemned the attack and claimed that it was an "act by outsiders invited by the administration".

“In the guise of celebrating the festival of Diwali, Rashtriya Kala Manch — an ABVP-affiliated organisation — invited ABVP ‘goons’ from outside to disrupt campus peace by creating a communal atmosphere on the campus premises,” it said in a statement.

It alleged that communal slogans were raised in front of women Muslim students whilst misbehaving with them.