Jawharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi once again witnessed scuffle on Saturday, 14 December. According to news agency PTI, the varsity’s vice chancellor, Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, claimed that a group of 15-20 students surrounded him "in a violent manner" on the campus, abused and tried to attack him.
Meanwhile, a statement released by the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) suggested the VC tried to escape when students asked him questions regarding fee hike and in the process "run over a student, whilst injuring other students.”
In a video that is being circulated on social media, the VC’s car can be seen surrounded by a group of students. After a while, the car moves in the reverse direction while one of the students can be seen holding on to the bonnet of the car.
‘They Were Planning to Attack Me’: JNU VC
According to PTI, Kumar said he had gone to oversee how the exams were going on when he was surrounded by students. He said around 4:30 pm, he and other officials came out of the administration block and visited the School of Biotechnology, which is within 100 metres of the administration block. Thereafter, they went to the School of Arts and Aesthetics.
“When we were coming back, 15-20 students in a violent manner surrounded me with an intention to physically assault me. They were planning to attack me and were very abusive,” he told PTI.
He said he was rescued by security guards and policemen in civil clothes who tried to take him away in a security vehicle but the crowd did not allow it.
"I got off the vehicle and moved ahead of the crowd by 20-30 metres," Kumar said.
‘VC Tried to Run Over a Student’: JNUSU
The statement issued by the varsity’s student union suggests the VC’s car tried to run over a student when they questioned him on the issue of fee hike.
“The Vice Chancellor, who does not hold any dialogue with the students, came to the School of Arts and Aesthetics today evening, wherein he was asked questions regarding the fee hike by the students. Instead of answering questions, he ran away from the spot. It is shameful that not only while leaving, his car tried to run over a student, whilst injuring other students near his car, but after going back he is tweeting complete lies and falsehoods,” the statement said.
JNU has been seeing protests for one-and-a-half months over hike in hostel fees and the students have boycotted exams over the issue.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)