X/@abvpjnu
Clashes erupted on Friday night between RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Left-backed groups during a meeting regarding the organization of students' union polls at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus. Both factions claimed injuries among their members. The involved groups blamed the other side for the ruckus while the JNU administration hasn't released any official statement.
The confrontation occurred during the University General Body Meeting (UGBM) at the Sabarmati Dhaba on campus, aimed at electing members of the Election Commission for the forthcoming 2024 JNUSU polls. The Democratic Students' Federation (DSF), aligned with the Left, accused ABVP members of disrupting the meeting by encroaching upon the dais and harassing council members and speakers.
जेएनयू में वामपंथी छात्र संगठन #JNUSU चुनाव में अपनी जमीन दरकती देख इतना बौखला गए हैं कि हिंसा करके दिव्यांग स्टूडेंट्स को भी नहीं छोड़ रहे हैं। यह अत्यंत शर्मनाक है, @aishe_ghosh इस वीडियो में साफ दिख रही हैं। हिंसा, गुंडई तथा देशविरोधी ताकतों का @abvpjnu जवाब देगी। pic.twitter.com/YdjvCJCw00
— Ashutosh Singh (आशुतोष सिंह) (@iAshutoshdu) February 9, 2024
Videos shared on social media depicted heated exchanges and chaotic scenes as ABVP and JNU students' union members engaged in arguments and sloganeering, while university security personnel attempted to restore order.
In a statement, the DSF condemned what they termed as an obstruction of the democratic process initiated for the conduct of the JNUSU election by the ABVP, alleging collaboration with the university administration.
#JNU Clash: #Delhi के JNU कैंपस में देर रात जमकर हंगामा, #ABVP और लेफ्ट संगठन के छात्र आपस में भिड़े.
— chandan jha (@chandan_jha_11) February 10, 2024
#JNUPROTEST #student #viralvideo pic.twitter.com/eJEttmQG9O
The statement read, "In response to the JNU Administration's announcement of the start of the JNUSU elections for 2023-2024, 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."
Meanwhile, the Students' Federation of India (SFI) alleged that JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh was attacked by ABVP members, with water being thrown at her during the altercation. However, attempts to obtain a response from Ghosh regarding the incident remained unanswered.
On the other hand, ABVP accused DSF activists of assaulting their members, including JNU secretary Vikas Patel, and claimed that personal disputes led to the thrashing of student Prashanto Bagchi and the attack on MA final year student Prafulla with a sharp weapon.
In a counter-statement, ABVP shifted the blame onto Left groups, asserting that they instigated disruptions during the meeting and resorted to physical violence against ABVP activists.
The statement read, "Today, the all-party organized a University General Body Meeting at Sabarmati ground at 9.30 pm. At first, JNUSU had passed casteist slurs to the mic and sound workers as they did not want ABVP to participate in the UGBM."
ABVP-JNU condemns the synchronised brutal attack by Left-NSUI goons on common students of JNU.
— ABVP JNU (@abvpjnu) February 9, 2024
Leftist Goons attacked innocent students of JNU with Sharp Weapons and Daphlis made of Steel. Several students including Divyang and girl students have been injured.#RedTerrorInJNU pic.twitter.com/NWxZnWhHEp
The UGBM, held amidst heightened tensions, witnessed a significant turnout of students gathered at Sabarmati Dhaba to participate in the election process. Earlier in the day, the JNUSU had collected the required quorum to initiate the meeting, signaling the commencement of the electoral proceedings.
