Tension grips the university; Muslim and Dalit students allege they were insulted, beaten, and branded as ‘outsiders’ by right-wing activists
NEW DELHI – Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), one of India’s most respected academic institutions, once again witnessed tension and violence after a confrontation between student groups late Wednesday night. The clash broke out during the General Body Meeting (GBM) of the School of Social Sciences, leaving several students injured and the campus divided along ideological lines.
According to eyewitnesses, the fight erupted between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) , and members of the left-aligned All India Students’ Association (AISA). Chairs were reportedly thrown, and students were beaten with sticks and fists.
The situation escalated further when, as alleged by several witnesses, some ABVP members began shouting anti-Islam slogans and calling Muslim students “ISI agents.”
Speaking to reporters, an AISA representative said, “ABVP members entered the GBM hall and started shouting slogans against Muslims. They abused our Muslim classmates and called them Pakistan supporters. This kind of hate speech has no place in a university.”
Student Union President Nitish Kumar, who is affiliated with left-wing organisations, was among those injured. “They attacked us while we were discussing academic issues,” he said. “I tried to calm the situation, but they started calling Muslim students terrorists and assaulted anyone who tried to stop them.”
A female student, who did not wish to be named, told reporters, “We were terrified. They were shouting anti-Islamic slogans. One of them pointed at a Muslim student and called him an ISI agent. The language used was extremely hateful.”
The AISA strongly condemned the attack and accused ABVP members of spreading communal hatred within the campus. In a statement issued after the incident, AISA said, “ABVP goons have not only assaulted the Student Union president and several others but have also insulted Muslim and Dalit students with casteist and communal abuse. This is an attack on JNU’s democratic spirit.”
The organisation also demanded immediate disciplinary action against those responsible. “JNU has always been known for intellectual debate and freedom of thought. But right-wing forces are trying to silence dissent through fear and violence,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, ABVP has denied the accusations, claiming that its members were attacked first. In a brief statement, the group said, “We were peacefully participating in the GBM when AISA members started shouting slogans against us. We reject all claims of communal remarks or violence.”
However, video footage from the campus circulating on social media appears to show a group of students raising slogans that mock Islam and Muslim identity. The footage has added to the outrage among students and sparked wider debate on the growing communalisation of campuses.
Following the violence, the JNU administration has sought written reports from both groups and ordered an internal inquiry. Security has been tightened across the campus to prevent further clashes.
In a statement, the administration said, “The university will not tolerate any act of violence or communal disharmony. Both student organisations have been asked to cooperate and ensure that the upcoming student elections are conducted peacefully.”
Despite the appeal for calm, tension continues to grip the university. Student protests broke out near the administration block on Thursday, with hundreds demanding accountability and calling for an immediate restoration of democratic rights on campus.
Muslim students have expressed fear and insecurity following the incident. Many said they no longer feel safe attending meetings or speaking freely on campus.
A PhD scholar from the Centre for Historical Studies said, “We came to JNU to study and express our ideas, not to be branded as traitors. The slogan-shouting was humiliating and dangerous. The administration must ensure our safety.”
Dalit students have also expressed anger over reports that caste-based slurs were used during the clash. “This is not just about one group or one religion,” said a member of the JNU Students’ Federation. “This is about an atmosphere of intolerance that is being encouraged.”
Civil society groups and academics have condemned the violence, describing it as part of a disturbing trend of growing hostility against minority and left-wing students in universities.
Former JNU professor Dr Shabnam Hashmi said, “JNU has always been a symbol of critical thinking and resistance against hate politics. What happened here is not an isolated event; it reflects how communal ideology is trying to destroy universities.”
Activist and writer Khalid Ahmed remarked, “Calling Muslim students ISI agents is not just an insult, it is criminal. It shows how normalised Islamophobia has become in educational spaces. The government and university authorities must take this seriously.”
As of Thursday evening, students continued their sit-in at the JNU main gate, demanding suspension of those involved and immediate action against hate slogans. Placards reading “Stop Communalising Campuses” and “No Place for Hate in JNU” were seen across the protest site.
The university’s Left organisations, AISA, SFI, and AISF, have also announced a joint protest march next week to “reclaim the democratic and inclusive spirit of JNU.”
One student leader summed up the mood: “We may differ politically, but targeting someone because of their religion is inhuman. If JNU loses its inclusiveness, India loses its intellectual heart.”
