Violence erupts at JNU as ABVP, left students clash over VC resignation protest

Clashes broke out early Monday at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) between Left-affiliated students and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members after a march demanding Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit's resignation.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is the parent organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) organized the protest over Pandit's alleged casteist remarks in a February 16 Sunday Guardian interview. She stated Dalit progress isn't possible "by being permanently a victim or playing the victim card," likening it to tactics used by Black communities.

Scuffles erupted around 1:30 a.m. near the East Gate. Protesters claimed the administration ignored their march, allowing ABVP to confront them. The All India Students Association (AISA, CPI-ML student wing) alleged ABVP hurled stones at "unarmed students," injuring many.

ABVP countered that biotechnology student Prateek Bharadwaj was critically hurt—blinded by fire extinguisher powder then beaten—demanding Delhi Police arrests. Social media videos showed chases and beatings on campus.

Pandit defended her words, denying casteism and context-twisting: "I am a Bahujan myself, I come from an OBC [Other Backward Class] background." Her comments critiqued "wokeism" in backlash to UGC's equity regulations, notified January 13, which sparked upper-caste protests over potential discrimination and lack of safeguards against "false complaints."

On January 29, the Supreme Court stayed the rules as "prima facie vague and capable of misuse," directing the Union government to redraft them; they remain on hold.