Facing resignation calls, JNU VC blames agitating students for violence

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 6

Amid calls for his resignation for failing to prevent violence on the JNU campus on Sunday, VC Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar on Monday blamed the agitating varsity students for the ugly turn of events and said each perpetrator will be brought to book.

Kumar said the origin of the present situation in JNU lay in some agitating students turning violent and obstructing the academic activities of a large number of non-protesting students. “The protesting students damaged the communication servers to disrupt the winter semester registration.

They prevented thousands of students from doing their winter registration. Their intent is clearly aimed at disrupting the functioning of the University,” he said.

“The VC is trying to put a spin on yesterday's attack, after a long night of meetings with the BJP IT Cell. However, everyone, barring him, knows what happened, as JNU students still have access to the internet. Every student of this university is witness to the carnage,” said JNUSU on the VC’s statement.

The VC who has been facing protests from Left unity led JNUSU for hostel fee hike last year also added that “Agitating students were simply a case of hooliganism and this is against the ethos of JNU.”

No such person will be spared and appropriate action will be taken, he assured as several students coming out of their hostels today said they were suffering in the fight between the Left and Right.

A student on condition of anonymity admitted the scuffle began because Left-led JNUSU students stopped some non-protesting students from registering for the winter semester.

“Yes it began with the clash between agitating students who did not want any of us to register for winter semester but the VC must resign for failing to provide is safety. We spent a harrowing last night and were not even given food at the hostel. Masked and armed people entered Sabarmati hostel where I reside and beat up students. We escaped but were awake all night hoping to get out,” said this student as JNU student politics rivalry got out of hand.

VC today appealed to all the JNU students to maintain peace.

“The University stands by all the students to facilitate their pursuit of academic activities. We will ensure that their winter semester registration will take place without any hindrance,” he said hinting at the early resumption of academic activity.

JNUSU meanwhile led a peaceful protest march on campus today with union president Aishe Ghosh demanding VC’s oyster. She said she sustained several stitches in her forehead due to Sunday night attack.

JNU teachers Atul Sood, Sucharita Sen, among others and former JNU professors like historian couple Mridula and Aditya Mukherjee were on campus attacking the VC for not preventing armed goons from running riot at the varsity.

“Delhi Police is not accountable to me but my administration is accountable to me. I will continue to ask them how armed mobs were allowed to attack students and run amok for hours last night. Where was University security? Where was the VC then?” Atul Sood asked.

JNU admin will use all possible means to protect the safety and security of our students. We all need to stand together to protect the interests of students. University should not be held to ransom by some agitators who have no respect for the fundamental rights of law-abiding students.

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