Want to correct public perception that we're tukde-tukde

New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is once again in news for the wrong reasons. A scuffle broke out between two student groups allegedly over eating non-vegetarian food on the JNU campus on Ram Navami (Sunday, April 10), leaving at least six injured and thereby drawing sharply polarised reactions, with politicians also getting into the argument.

Addressing the recent violence, JNU VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit said, "JNU is a free university. We respect individuals' choices, it's a melting pot of all identities. Young people have opinions and we appreciate diversity and dissent but let's not end up having violence." She added, "The issue erupted on whether 'Ram Navami Havan' should be conducted and regarding the food menu. These are the versions of the two groups. The proctorial inquiry was ordered and we're waiting for reports, it'll be an impartial inquiry."

Dhulipudi Pandit also went on to emphasize that JNUites are as "nationalistic as anybody else". "I want to correct the public perception that we are tukde-tukde....after I've taken over I've not seen anybody talking like that. We are as nationalistic as anybody else," the JNU VC said.

Meanwhile earlier, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) said it is unfortunate that the university's registrar has given a communal colour to the April 10 clash on the campus. They also urged the vice-chancellor to announce a thorough and impartial inquiry into the clash that broke out in the Kaveri Hostel mess, allegedly over the serving non-vegetarian food.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party, on Sunday protested at the JNU campus, demanding that non-vegetarian food should not be prepared inside the mess on the occasion of the festival. The ABVP also accused the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and Left-backed students of preventing them from worshipping on Ram Navami.