Food preference row at JNU hostel triggers uproar

Food, the ultimate unifier, is currently at the centre of a major controversy at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Mahi-Mandavi hostel.

It turns out the residents of this hostel had mutually decided to sit separately on the basis of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food preferences.

The peaceful, voluntary arrangement on Thursday sparked a row after students affiliated to Left-wing student unions insisted that everyone partake of the food sitting together in one another’s company.

But not everyone is on board at the said hostel, with ABVP’s Vaibhav Meena, the incumbent JNUSU joint secretary, taking the side of vegetarian students.

“Left-aligned student leaders are exerting pressure on students to renege on the mutually agreed on pon arrangement and return to a common eating and cooking setup. The students affected by this interference have expressed dissatisfaction, particularly vegetarian students, many of whom have begun skipping meals when non-vegetarian food is prepared. This being the month of Shravan, many students are at the receiving end,” Meena told this correspondent.

The ABVP has pledged a demonstration in this matter tomorrow and also plans to petition the administration.

Meanwhile students at the hostel said vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals are being cooked in the same utensils, causing religious and emotional concerns to some who follow strict vegetarian diets during this holy month of Shravan.

“Students in Mahi Mandvi hostel reached a mutual agreement. But Left-wing leaders are causing trouble on the campus. They are exerting pressure on students sit together and eat and to also cook the food at the same place. Many students are agitated over this and we are with them,” said Meena, the sole ABVP representative in the Left dominated JNUSU.

The ABVP also criticised the administration for inaction on the matter and said food choices were a matter of personal freedom.