JNU VC says violence in campus is against institutional ethos, appeals for peace

A day after the violence broke out in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, its Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar appealed to the students to maintain peace and tried to assure them by saying that no person involved in the violence will be spared and appropriate action will be taken.

Kumar called the attack on students as an act of “hooliganism” and said it was against the ethos of the university.

He said the origin of the present situation lay in the activities of those agitating students who turned violent and obstructed the academic activities of a large number of non-protesting students.

“The protesting students damaged the University communication servers to disrupt the winter semester registration. They prevented thousands of students from doing their winter registration.

“Their intent is clearly aimed at disrupting the functioning of the University. This is simply hooliganism and against the ethos of JNU. No such person will be spared and appropriate action will be taken,” he told IANS.

“The University stands by all the students to facilitate their pursuit of academic activities. We will ensure that their winter semester registration will take place without any hindrance. They need not fear about their process. The top priority of the University is to protect the academic interests of our students,” Kumar said.

He said the administration will use all possible means to protect the students.

“We all need to stand together to protect the interests of genuine students. The University should not be held to ransom by some agitators who have no respect for the fundamental rights of law-abiding students,” said Kumar.

Violence swept the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on Sunday as several masked individuals, both male and female, thrashed students, including girls, and teachers inside the campus with wooden and metal rods.