After the infamous ‘Tukde Tukde’ incident at JNU, where anti India slogans were raised, Jawaharlal Nehru University is in the spotlight again. According to sources hundreds of students tried to force their way into JNU Vice Chancellor, Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar’s house in protest over reforms in the admission and academic policy of the institution.
Protests by the students started last week where members of the student group went on a hunger strike over various issues .The group had planned a march to the VC’s house on Monday to meet him, However when the students reached the house, the VC was not present. The events took an ugly turn when the students tried to enter the VC’s house, and laid siege, confining the VC’s wife in the house for several hours. Soon a scuffle broke out between the students and the security guards present. Delhi police officials were also present at the location. VC’s wife was rushed to the hospital as she was in a state of trauma.
Eleven students, including Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union VP Sarika Chaudhary, had gone on an indefinite hunger strike to protest against the university’s decision to introduce online entrance exams and several other issues. The scrapping of IT based examination systems, which are being adopted by a number of institutions throughout India was a major demand by the students. Students also have reservations about change in academic policy like the delinking of the integrated MPhil-PhD program and others.
The VC has been in the crosshairs of the student group over the introduction of minimum attendance , biometric attendance for teachers and others. VC M Jagadesh Kumar took to Twitter and said “This evening few hundred students forcibly broke into my JNU residence and confined my wife inside home for several hours while I was away in a meeting. Is it the way to protest? Terrorizing a lonely lady at home?”
This evening few hundred students forcibly broke into my JNU residence and confined my wife inside home for several hours while I was away in a meeting. Is it the way to protest? Terrorosing a lonely lady at home?
— Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) March 25, 2019
The Delhi police confirmed the incident and maintained that the students had organized the march .
“There was a call for march till the JNU VC’s house today. Students reached his house and tried to enter. They were stopped by the security staff,” said officials from the Delhi Police.
Delhi Police: There was a call for march till the JNU VC's house today. Students reached his house and tried to enter. They were stopped by the security staff. So far most of the students have gone back to their hostel. Few of them are still there. Situation is under control.
— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2019
Demands to scrap the online entrance exam were made by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) led JNUSU. AISA is the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation. The protesting students rejected the charges and alleged manhandling by the security personnel present at the VC’s house. JNUSU also demanded that VC M Jagadesh Kumar be removed.
“We had gone to his residence to meet the V-C. We were manhandled by security personnel and many students have sustained injuries,“ a student said.
Dr Buddha Singh, assistant professor at JNU said, “It seems that people from outside are provoking students for mob lynching. It’s very shameful that the family of VC was attacked. Even lady guards were hurt.”
Dr Buddh Singh, Assistant Professor JNU, after some students allegedly attacked the residence of Vice Chancellor of JNU: It seems that ppl from outside are provoking students for mob lynching. It's very shameful that the family of VC was attacked.Even lady guards were hurt.#Delhi pic.twitter.com/kU8EMBD03Z
— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2019
In a tweet later in the day M Jagadesh Kumar took to Twitter and said that “neither me nor my wife will file a police complaint… We have forgiven them.”
While last night's violent behavior by students in front my JNU residence is condemnable, neither me nor my wife will file a police complaint against the students. We have forgiven them. Wish them the best and hope they will reform and not repeat such acts in future.
— Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) March 26, 2019
