‘Agents of chaos’: JNU Teachers Forum condemns attack on students, demands action against culprits

NEW DELHI: Two days after the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students who were attacked during a protest demanding justice for IIT Bombay student, Darshan Solanki, who died by suicide, the JNU Teachers’ Forum appealed the university to take “swift action” against those involved in the violence.

Expressing concern over the JNU violence happened on February 19 night in the premises of Student Activity Centre, the teachers body said: “We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent act of desecration of the portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by a group of people. The students who wanted to stop the desecration, were mercilessly beaten.”

“We strongly believe that the events of intolerance and violence happening since November 2022 are part of the larger design to disturb the academic environment and social fabric of the campus,” JNUTF said. It further appeared to the JNU community to alienate the “agent of chaos” and maintain harmony and peace on the campus.

JNU Students' Union called for a candle light march in solidarity with Darshan Solanki's family members’ quest for justice on February 19. The move comes after the IIT Bombay students urged students across the country to organize candle march in their respective colleges. Darshan Solanki, an 18-year Dalit student died by suicide in IIT Bombay due to the alleged discrimination and exclusion he had to face in the campus.

On Sunday, the JNUSU alleged that ABVP activists attacked some students after a march. Shortly after, the ABVP denied the allegation and accused the "Left group" of removing a garland from a picture and “insulting” Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

“Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has made an unfortunate statement regarding the desecration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in JNU by the leftists, which is going to challenge the integrity of the country. ABVP strongly condemns and opposes this statement full of tainted mentality, which is an attack on national unity,” ABVP said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the JNUSU appealed to the student community to stand united against such “diversion tactics used by ABVP to disturb the communal harmony”. It further asked the Dean of Students' Office to remove the recent notice to take prior permission from DoS office.

“The JNU Administration should ensure that the repeated offenders and culprits who have been identified should be immediately punished,” the students’ body added.