Another season of campus unrest? JNU violence triggers anger, protests

Violence broke out at Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers, damaging property on the campus. The administration called in the police, who then conducted a flag march. At least 28 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured as chaos reigned on the campus for nearly two hours. Ghosh was severely injured. In a video shared on social media, Ghosh, who was admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, is seen crying while bleeding profusely from the head. Those around her try to cover her wound and offer her water. "I have been brutally beaten up by people wearing masks. I do not know. I was there with one of my activists when I was brutally beaten up. I am not even able to talk," the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president said in the video.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers entered the premises when a meeting was being held by the JNU Teachers' Association on the issue of violence on campus; they then assaulted students and professors. They also barged into three hostels. Video footage aired by some TV channels showed a group of men brandishing hockey sticks and rods, moving around a building. The Left-controlled JNUSU and the RSS-affiliated ABVP blamed each other for the violence. 

The incident could set off yet another season of campus protests across the country, with students from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Jadavpur University (JU), Presidency University and Film&Television Institute of India (FTII) already reacting to the JNU incident. Varsities like AMU and JU were at the heart of the nationwide unrest after the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed the parliaments.

The Arts Faculty Students Union (AFSU) of JU took out a protest rally against the attack; Over 300 students participated in the rally. The CPI(M)-affiliated Students Federation of India (SFI) on Sunday said it will take out rallies against the "barbaric attack" on JNU students. The rallies will be organised in JU and Presidency, they said. An SFI leader of Presidency University said students will gather at the varsity's portico on Monday, and take out a protest rally. "We will intensify our movement against the BJP and the ABVP and give a call for their boycott," he said. The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association and the All Bengal University Teachers' Association also issued statements condemning the attack on JNU students.

In AMU, a march was held around midnight to express solidarity with the JNU students. In a statement, the AMU Teachers' Association (AMUTA) condemned the violence. AMUTA secretary Najmul Islam urged the Chief Justice of India to take suo motu cognisance of the "unprecedented situation arising from Sunday's assault on JNU students and teachers". Senior Superintendent of Police Akash Kulahari said police had been deployed at sensitive points all around the campus as a precautionary measure. Former AMU students' union president Faizul Hasan said students would hold a peaceful march on Monday to express solidarity with all those who are holding peaceful protests against the amended Citizenship Act. The AMU, which was to reopen on January 6, has already extended the winter break keeping in view the continuing protests against the amended citizenship law. On December 15, the university had announced an extended winter break following violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on the campus that left over 60 people, including 40 students, AMU security staff and police personnel injured.

Students of the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) here on late Sunday night staged a protest condemning the attack on students of Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. They held a demonstration outside the gate of the premier film institute, holding banners with message "FTII stands with JNU, condemns the violence of ABVP Goons". 

Students from various colleges held a protest at the Gateway of India around midnight to condemn the JNU violence. Former JNU students Umar Khalid and Kunal Kamra were part of the group which also held a candlelight vigil to show solidarity with JNU students. Youngsters, mostly students from different city colleges, assembled on the pavement across Hotel Taj near the Gateway of India to condemn the violence. It was an "impromptu assembly at a short notice, a student said. 

Opposition reacts

The latest JNU incident provoked political outrage, and elicited condemnations from Union Ministers S. Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharaman, apart from opposition political parties across the board. The Congress blamed the BJP government for the attack on JNU students by masked miscreants, terming it a "state-sponsored mayhem", with Rahul Gandhi saying that it was a "reflection of fear" that "fascists in control of our nation" have of the students. "The brutal attack on JNU students and teachers by masked thugs, that has left many seriously injured, is shocking. The fascists in control of our nation, are afraid of the voices of our brave students. Today's violence in JNU is a reflection of that fear," Gandhi said in a tweet.

Congress leader P. Chidambaram said it is shocking and horrifying to see live telecast of "masked men entering JNU hostels and attacking students" and alleged that such an "act of impunity can only happen with the support of the government". "What we are seeing on Live TV is shocking and horrifying. Masked men enter JNU hostels and attack students. What is the Police doing? Where is the Police Commissioner?" the former finance minister tweeted. "If it is happening on live TV, it is an act of impunity and can only happen with the support of the government. This is beyond belief," he wrote on the microblogging site.

BJP reacts

BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said violence in any form needs to be condemned but added that it is equally important to note that a certain group of people in JNU subscribe to a "mindset that calls for dismemberment of India and considers death sentence of a known terrorist by the Supreme Court to be an act of murder". These people are often called "tukde tukde gang", he said, and added, "obviously their ideology can't be one of peace. It must be ascertained as to what is their specific role in this culture of violence, especially in this specific incident today." BJP and its affiliates refer to groups with alleged sympathy with Maoists and Islamists as "tukde tukde gang".

In a late-night tweet, the BJP said, "We strongly condemn the violence on JNU campus. This is a desperate attempt by forces of anarchy, who are determined to use students as cannon fodder, create unrest to shore up their shrinking political footprint. Universities should remain places of learning and education."

Bollywood reacts

Bollywood actors Swara Bhasker, Shabana Azmi, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub and Taapsee Pannu, and filmmakers Aparna Sen and Hansal Mehta condemned the violence at the Jawaharlal Nehru University and urged Delhi Police to intervene. Swara, whose mother Ira Bhaskar is a professor at the JNU, took to Twitter to appeal to the people on social media to reach the campus "to pressure the government and Delhi Police" to control the violence. "Urgent appeal!!!! To all Delhiites PLS gather in large numbers outside the Main Gate of JNU campus on Baba Gangnath Marg.. to pressure the govt. & #DelhiPolice to stop the rampage by alleged ABVP masked goons on JNU campus," the actor captioned the video, adding that she was concerned about her parents' safety who live at the campus. 

Filmmaker-composer Vishal Bhardwaj also condemned the violence. "It's shameful and enraging to see what's happening in #JNUViolence," he said.

Director Bejoy Nambiar questioned the silence of many in the film fraternity. "All you silent friends of mine watch this !!! Watch this & then come and talk to me about how concerned you are about the damage to public' property. How is THIS OK? How can we watch students & teachers being brutally attacked like this and stay quiet?" he asked.

-Inputs from PTI