Protest at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, in solidarity with JNU. (Express photo: Partha Paul)
JNU violence Live Updates: Police on Monday baton-charged the Left and the BJP supporters as they engaged in a face off in the Kolkata’s Jadavpur area during rallies over the violence on Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, officials said. Day after masked men went on a rampage inside the varsity injuring 34 students and teachers, protests erupted across the country in solidarity with the injured students of the premier institution.
The Delhi Police said the Crime Branch has found some vital clues in the case, and a fact-finding panel has been formed to expedite the probe. Addressing a press conference on Monday evening, Delhi Police PRO M S Randhawa stated that the campus’ internal security rests with the JNU administration, and refuted charges of delayed action by the cops saying, “We have responded to PCR calls, and law and order situation professionally.” Meanwhile, a plea has been filed in Supreme Court seeking contempt action against the Centre and Delhi Police for allegedly not following its direction to check mob violence at JNU on January 5.
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Earlier JNU students’ union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh, who was injured in Sunday’s attack, claimed that some RSS-affiliated professors were promoting violence to break their movement on Sunday night. Alleging a nexus between the JNU security and the perpetrators, she said the police did not even intervene to stop the violence inflicted upon the students on campus.
Masked men wielding sticks, rods and sledgehammers terrorised Jawaharlal Nehru University for close to three hours on Sunday evening, entering hostels, attacking students and teachers and leaving 26 injured.
Anurag Kashyap, who participated in the protest at Carter Road, told indianexpress.com, “I condemn the way police are controlled. The common man has been intimidated so much that now he is not afraid. We stand by the students, and they are our inspiration. I don’t want to give them any message. The students’ message has woken us up. I ran away from Twitter and was busy in my work. I was like, ‘Why should I bother? I am earning money and doing work.’ Students have shown me the way. They have woken me up. I returned because of them. I stand with them. I stand behind them. I am learning from them.” Click here to read more.
A protest in solidarity was also organized by students and academics of the University of Oxford against the attack on students at JNU.
Nearly 150 IIT-Bombay teachers sign statement condemning JNU violence
As a group of masked people unleashed mayhem and violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University for three hours on Sunday evening, attacking students and teachers with sticks, iron rods and sledgehammers, tensions had been brewing in the campus since Saturday over the issue of registration for the new semester. So, what actually triggered the latest violence at JNU? Read here...
Scenes of protests in Lucknow against assault on JNU students during Sunday rampage.
Bollywood actors and directors including Dia Mirza, Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagdi, Rahul Bose and stand-up comedian Kumal Kamra join protests in Mumbai against violence on JNU campus. (Express Photo: Laxman Singh)
Bollywood movie directors Anurag Kashyap and Anubhav Sinha join protests against JNU violence in Mumbai.
Police baton-charged supporters of the Left and the BJP as the two sides engaged in a face off in the city's Jadavpur area on Monday during rallies over the violence that rocked the JNU campus in Delhi, officials said. Students of the Jadavpur University, activists of the SFI and members of other Left outfits took out a rally protesting against the violence at JNU campus. A march was also taken out by the BJP on the issue and both the sides came face to face at Sulekha More, leading to a brawl. Police put up barricades and blocked both the rallies, however, allegedly abuses were hurled and slogans and counter-slogans raised by the two sides. (PTI)
Actor Gauhar Khan joins protest at Mumbai's Gateway of India.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Monday said there was no ‘tukde tukde’ gang when he was studying in the Jawahar Lal Nehru University. “I can certainly tell you when I studied in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), we didn’t see any ‘tukde tukde’ gang there,” S Jaishankar was quoted as saying during an event in Delhi by ANI. His statement comes a day after at least 35 students and teachers were injured by masked men wielding sticks, rods and sledgehammers at the campus on Sunday evening, leading to massive outrage and protests across the country. JNU Student Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh was also injured in the attack. Read more...
A plea has been filed in Supreme Court seeking contempt action against the Centre and Delhi Police for allegedly not following its direction to curb and handle mob violence at premier Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on January 5.
The plea, filed by Tehseen Poonawala, said the apex court had on July 17, 2018, laid down "preventive and remedial guidelines for the Government and Police authorities to curb and handle mob violence, and came to a conclusion that no individual in his/her own capacity or as a part of a group, which within no time assumes the character of a mob, can take law into his/her/their own hands and deal with others as guilty". (PTI)
Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha said the attack on JNU students and teachers on Sunday had left no difference in “government goons and government police”, accusing police of “helping” the anti-social elements and not the innocent. Read more...
Citizens from all walks of life and trade unions held a protest rally and procession at the bus stand in Ludhiana on Monday against the violence in JNU. "Our heart bleeds for all those youngsters who were non-violent and were still beaten mercilessly by the goons with sticks and stones. The most frustrating part was that the saga continued unabashed in this era of instant communication, and the police did not intervene," said CPI's Arun Mitra.
The HRD Ministry met officials from the JNU administration on Monday and took stock of the situation on the campus following Sunday's violence, even as Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar skipped the meeting. The meeting at the HRD Ministry which went on for over two hours was attended by the JNU registrar, proctor and other admin officials who briefed the ministry officials on the sequence of events that unfolded on the campus and the measures taken to restore normalcy.
"HRD Secretary Amit Khare held a meeting with a team of JNU authorities, including Pro-VC Chintamani Mahapatra, Registrar Promod Kumar, Rector Rana Pratap Singh and Proctor Dhananjay Singh, today. The secretary held a detailed discussion with them and was also briefed about the current situation in JNU," a senior HRD Ministry official said. (PTI)
Congress President Sonia Gandhi has appointed a fact-finding committee to probe into Sunday's violence on JNU campus.
Delhi Police PRO, MS Randhawa addressed the press on JNU Violence and said, "A committee has been formed under the Joint Commissioner of Police, for factfinding and to avoid any delay in investigation and inquiry. We have found some vital clues and we are trying that the case is solved soon."
Malayalam actor and producer Nivin Pauly termed the JNU violence "brutality at its worst". "What happened in #JNU last night was horrifying and frightening. This is brutality at its worst! Those attackers behind this violence against students and teachers must be punished. It’s time we stand united against hate and violence," he wrote in a Facebook post.
Thousands reach Gateway of India in Mumbai to protest against the assault on JNU students.
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt said it is time to "strongly oppose any ideology that seeks to divide, oppress and promote violence". "When students, teachers and peaceful civilians become victims of physical assault on an ongoing basis, it's time to stop pretending that all is fine. "We must look truth in the eye and acknowledge that we are a house at war with itself. We, the people, of this country no matter how diff our ideologies, must find a human solution to all of our complex problems, and reinforce the peaceful and inclusive ideals upon which this country was built," Alia posted on Instagram stories.
Maharashtra NCP MLA Rohit Pawar joins students' protest at Gateway of India in Mumbai. (Express Photo: Ganesh Shirsekar)
People join protest called by Jadavpur University students in Kolkata against the assault on JNU students. (Express Photo: Partha Paul)
Chants of 'Azadi' and 'Halla bol' could be heard at protest in Raipur against violence in JNU.
Left students, social workers, human rights activists raise 'Azadi' slogans during a protest in Agartala against JNU violence.
People protest march against last night's violence at JNU in Kochi, Kerala.
"An attempt to destroy the roots of the progressive thought process that is in practice within JNU," says Panchali Bhattacharjee, social worker and wife of Tripura opposition leader Manik Sarkar. Bhattacharya joined protests against rampage in JNU.
BJP MP Dilip Ghosh "Violence in students' politics and educational institutes are a gift of the Left students' outfits. You will witness violence in educational institutes only in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura where Left is either in power or were in power till a few years back. Now, the Left students' groups are getting it back as scores are being settled." Read more...
DYFI, Tripura Youth Federation (TYF) hold protest rally at Agartala against central govt policies and assault on students, teachers at JNU. (Express Photo)
Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Monday asserted educational institutions cannot be allowed to become "political adda", and vowed "strong action" against the perpetrators of Sunday night violence at JNU. Pokhriyal, who was here to attend some official events, said educational institutions were meant only for imparting education and should not be used for political purposes."I have said this earlier also that these autonomous institutions cannot be allowed to become political 'adda' (dens). Strong action will be initiated against people involved in such an attack," he told reporters. Read more...
AISF, AIYF, AIYA hold protest at Agartala on Monday condemning assault on JNU students and teachers. (Express Photos: Debraj Deb)
Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor said: "It (violence in JNU) has to be condemned. It was quite sad and shocking what I saw, it was very disturbing. I could not sleep the whole night thinking about it. Violence is not going to get us anything and those who have done it should be punished."
People protest against the JNU attacks in Guwahati's Nehru park. (Express Photo: Tora Agarwala)
BJP ally JD(U) on Monday called for removal of the JNU vice-chancellor and an investigation by a Supreme Court judge into the Sunday night violence in the university as it accused the Delhi Police of failing in its duties, news agency PTI reported. Party spokesperson K C Tyagi in a statement said, "We strongly condemn the attitude of the university's vice-chancellor and other authorities who became silent spectators of the dirty game of these goons. Police officials too failed in performing their duties."
"The JD(U) demands a free and fair enquiry by a Supreme Court judge and for a fair trial, the VC and other top administrators must be removed from their respective posts," he said, expressing his party's solidarity with JNU students.
Former JNU Chancellor and senior Congress leader Karan Singh on Monday slammed the university's Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar over the violence on campus, alleging that he had been "absent" at this crucial juncture and was "completely ineffective".
Expressing shock at the events at the premier university, Singh urged the Home Ministry to get the whole matter impartially probed and apprehend the "masked miscreants who violently attacked university students, including women, and take necessary action against them regardless of their political affiliations".
Masked people brandishing hockey sticks and iron rods unleashed mayhem, trawling through corridors and breaking into hostels, including those occupied by women at the university on Sunday.
The Delhi Police registered a case against unidentified people for rioting and damage to property. The case was transferred to its Crime Branch.
"As a former Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, I have been shocked beyond belief at the violent and condemnable incidents that took place yesterday," Singh said in a statement.
Violence in educational institutes is a "gift" of the Left who are now "getting it back" as scores are being settled, BJP's West Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh said on Monday commenting on the attack on students and teachers at the JNU campus in Delhi.
"Violence in students' politics and educational institutes are a gift of the Left students' outfits. You will witness violence in educational institutes only in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura where Left is either in power or were in power till a few years back," Ghosh told reporters. "Now, the Left students' groups are getting it back as scores are being settled," he said.
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam arrived at the Gateway of India to show solidarity with students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, a day after masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus.
Students on Monday formed a human chain in Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Maharashtra's Aurangabad to protest against
violence in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. Violence had broken out at JNU on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, after which the police conducted a flag march.
At least 28 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured. The human chain started from the statue of Babasaheb
Ambedkar in the university campus and extended till the administrative building, an official said
Student groups from Mumbai university reached the Gateway of India to protest attack a violent attack in the JNU campus yesterday. As many as 26 students and teachers were injured after a group of masked men wielding sticks, rods and sledgehammers terrorised the varsity for close to three hours on Sunday evening.
At Hutatma Chowk, Police said people gathering there will be directed to go towards the Gateway of India and not assemble here. A little while later, a van with some of the detained protesters were seen heading towards the Gateway of India.
CPI(M) General Secy Sitaram Yechury on JNU Violence: It is clearly a pre-planned attack from outsiders. It is an assault on reason, rationality and democracy. For nearly five hours, the VC was not responding and not asking police to come in and restore normalcy. This makes him also complicit in this attack."
Slamming Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders for their criticism of the Modi government over the JNU violence, Union minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh on Monday said the Congress leader stands for anarchism and blamed groups with a history of supporting "terrorists" and violence on the campus for the Sunday night incident.
He rejected the allegation that the ABVP, the RSS's student wing, was behind the violence, saying this has never been its character and mocked the charge as a case of pot calling the kettle black, as its rivals -- a reference to Left-affiliated groups -- are known for "using bombs and batons". The masked people, who were involved in violence, should be identified, and stern action be taken against them, he said, accusing "tukde tukde gang" of working to defame the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the country.
A day after violence by some armed men at New Delhi's JNU, some students here at Panjab University disrupted the address of Haryana Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, who alleged that it was "a predetermined act" by those trying to "break the country". Carrying banners, the students belonging to some Left-leaning student bodies, shouted slogans against the BJP, RSS and the ABVP when the Haryana speaker was addressing during a seminar on the topic, "Women's Participation in Decision-Making".
The protesting students were then taken out of the seminar hall by security personnel. Later talking to the media, Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta described the students' protest "a predetermined act".
Students of Raja Serfoji Government Arts College here staged a protest on Monday, condemning the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New
Delhi, police said. The students raised slogans against the attack and staged a demonstration, police added. Indian Students Federation secretary Aravindswamy presided over the demonstration. Security was beefed up in the area, police said (PTI)
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the hours-long violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on Sunday evening, saying it was “actively abetted” by the Modi government. In a statement issued on Monday, Sonia said: “The voice of India’s youth and students is being muzzled everyday. The horrifying and unprecedented violence unleashed on India’s young by goons with active abetment of the ruling Modi Govt is deplorable and unacceptable.” Read more...
Meanwhile, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad held protests in the Banaras Hindu University alleging attack on JNU students by Left groups yesterday. Additional forces have been deployed outside the university.
The CPI(M) on Monday demanded immediate sacking of JNU Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, alleging that he allowed rampage against students to continue on the university premises.
"The Vice Chancellor, who has been instrumental in systematically undermining and dismantling the country's premier university, had permitted this rampage to go on unchecked for hours. The Vice Chancellor should be sacked for this complicity in permitting this attack. "The President of India as the Visitor of the University must immediately sack the Vice Chancellor and ensure that normalcy prevails in the campus," it said in a statement.
The AMU Students Coordination Committee (AMUSCC) has demanded the resignation of JNU Vice Chancellor Prof Jagadesh Kumar, asking him to take "moral responsibility" for the violence in the varsity. In a statement, AMUSCC said reports from JNU that even medical teams going to assess the injured were prevented by the mob from entering the JNU campus are shocking and only a time-bound judicial inquiry would uncover the full truth. Protesting students at AMU will also be holding a Tiranga march inside the AMU campus later in the day in solidarity with JNU students and all other student bodies currently holding peaceful protests against the CAA.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar today condemned the attack on students and teachers in JNU and accused the Congress, AAP and left parties of creating an atmosphere of unrest in the country. "I condemn the violence which took place last night in JNU. Some elements from Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and the Left are deliberately trying to create an atmosphere of violence and unrest in the country, especially in universities. This should be investigated," Javadekar tweeted.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said, "Delhi Police commissioner must be held accountable for the attacks on JNU students. Where is the Delhi Police commissioner and why didn't he rush to JNU when students were being attacked and shown on TV. Perpetrators of attacks on JNU students must be identified within 24 hours and brought to justice."
JNU Proctor Dhananjay Singh today appealed to the students to not leave campus and assured that measures are being taken to normalise the situation. "We appeal to students to not panic and leave the campus. Measures are being taken to normalise situation on the campus and ensure safety of everyone," Singh said after meeting HRD officials over the violence in the campus on Sunday.
Reacting to the JNU violence, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said, "I was reminded of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. An investigation is needed to find out who were these masked attackers." The Shiv Sena leader had earlier compared the police crackdown against students protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act at Jamia Milia Islamia campus to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
In a statement condemning the JNU attack, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said, "The voice of India’s youth and students is being muzzled every day. The horrifying and unprecedented violence unleashed on India’s young by goons with active abetment of the ruling Modi government is deplorable and unacceptable. Yesterday’s bone-chilling attack on students and teachers in JNU, Delhi is a grim reminder of the extent the government will go to stifle and subjugate every voice of dissent. Students and youth need affordable education, a deserving job, a promising future and a right to participate in our thriving democracy. Sadly, the Modi government seeks to suffocate and restrain each one of these aspirations. The entire Congress Party stands in solidarity with India’s youth and students. We strongly deprecate the sponsored violence in JNU yesterday and demand an independent judicial inquiry.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata, "We are fighting another war of freedom. It's a fascist attack on JNU students."
Mumbai: Police near Hutatma chowk where many are expected to gather this evening. (Express photo/Sadaf Modak)
JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, who was injured in the violence, said she was specifically targeted during a peace march on the campus. Ghosh said a group of around 20-25 masked people disrupted the peace march and attacked her with iron rods on Sunday. She suffered head injuries and was admitted to AIIMS here. Ghosh was discharged on Monday. "I was specifically targeted on Sunday during a peace march on the university campus. Around 20-25 masked persons disrupted the peace march and attacked me with iron rods," the JNUSU president told PTI.
Protests against the JNU violence underway at Gateway of India in Mumbai. (Express photo)
Thirty-four people admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital after violence at the JNU were discharged on Monday, officials at the institute said. "34 people were admitted at the trauma centre after violence in JNU. Four of them had head injuries. They were discharged on Monday," they said.
Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal has summoned the police in connection with the attack on female students inside the JNU campus on Sunday. In the notice, Maliwal has sought details of the FIR registered in the case and reasons for not responding to violence immediately.
A meeting of senior AAP leaders and ministers was held at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence over the violence at the JNU campus. More details are awaited.
Students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, assembled to protest against the JNU violence. "Once we got to know about the developments, we assembled at the Wisdom Tree. It did not take much time to paint the banner that we had during the demonstration. We then gathered at the main gate where students from Ghokale Institute and Savitribai Phule University also joined in. We protested till about 1 am when the police said that it is not an hour to protest and asked us to disperse." said Shubham Ghadge, a student from the sound department. Around 200 students were present condemning the JNU attacks with slogans of Azadi and against ABVP. "We are planning to hold a march today from FTII to the University," he said.