JNUSU Accuses Vice Chancellor Of 'Perpetrating Violence', Demands His Resignation

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) on Monday accused vice chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar of 'perpetrating violence' in the university and demanded his resignation. The student union said that he used all means to ensure that students and teachers faced 'violence'. It also alleged that outsiders were brought in with sticks and rods to 'perpetrate violence'.

"This Vice Chancellor is a cowardly vice chancellor who introduces illegal policies through the backdoor, runs away from questions of students or teachers and then manufactures a situation to demonise JNU," the JNUSU said in a statement.

"For nearly seventy days now, the students of JNU have been fighting a courageous battle to save their university from the clutches of privatisation and greed. The VC is adamant that by sending a message that a fee hike has happened in JNU, he can prove that accessible education is not possible," it added.

"The violence that happened is the result of the desperation and frustration of the VC and his cronies. But the chronology of events that unfolded today is a shameful episode for the Delhi Police who gave a safe passage to ABVP goons imported from outside," the JNUSU alleged.

Meanwhile, the vice chancellor has appealed to all students to maintain peace, saying top priority of varsity is to protect the academic interests of students. "Would like to appeal to all students to maintain peace. The University stands by all students to facilitate their pursuit of academic activities. We will ensure that their winter semester registration will take place without any hindrance," he said in a statement.

"The top priority of the University is to protect the academic interests of our students," Kumar said.

Earlier, Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa held a late-night meeting with a delegation of students and teachers after violence broke out at the university in the national capital. Following the violence, the administration called in the police which conducted a flag march.

The delegation comprising students and teachers from JNU, Jamia and Delhi University submitted an application to the Delhi Police PRO with four demands, including urgent medical assistance to injured students and arrest of the accused behind the violence.

"The police have assured us that they will look into the matter and our demands," president Federation of Central University Teachers’ associations Rajib Ray said. The students demanded that the police leave the JNU campus.

The Left-controlled JNUSU and the ABVP blamed each other for the violence. The students' union alleged that its members, including Ghosh, were injured in stone-pelting by ABVP members.

With PTI Inputs