HRD Ministry Meets JNU Officials, VC Stays Away
FILE PHOTO: Violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night as a group of masked people armed with sticks attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus
The HRD Ministry met officials from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration on Monday and took stock of the situation on the campus following Sunday’s violence, even as Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar skipped the meeting.
Meanwhile, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank,’ who was in Bhubhaneshwar, on Monday said educational institutions cannot be allowed to become “political adda” and vowed “strong action” against the perpetrators of the violence at JNU.
The meeting at the HRD Ministry which went on for over two hours was attended by the JNU registrar, proctor and other admin officials who briefed the ministry officials on the sequence of events that unfolded on the campus and the measures taken to restore normalcy.
“HRD Secretary Amit Khare held a meeting with a team of JNU authorities, including Pro-VC Chintamani Mahapatra, Registrar Promod Kumar, Rector Rana Pratap Singh and Proctor Dhananjay Singh, today. The secretary held a detailed discussion with them and was also briefed about the current situation in JNU,” a senior HRD Ministry official said.
The ministry had on Sunday sought an immediate report from JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar after the violence broke out and students and teachers were attacked.
There was heavy deployment of police on Monday outside the Shashtri Bhawan in New Delhi, which houses the HRD Ministry.
“A detailed report has been sent to the HRD Ministry about the sequence of events. The top administration officials are at the ministry to provide all details leading to the present situation,” JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar told PTI.
Violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night as a group of masked people armed with sticks attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in the police.
Many sustained injuries and were admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre. They were discharged on Monday. JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh suffered a head injury.
The Left-controlled JNUSU and the ABVP blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours.
The Union HRD minister had urged JNU students to maintain the dignity of the university and peace on campus.
“I have said this earlier also that these autonomous institutions cannot be allowed to become political ‘adda’ (dens). Strong action will be initiated against people involved in such an attack,” he told reporters in Bhubhaneshwar on Monday.
JNU Proctor Dhananjay Singh appealed to the students to not panic and leave the campus.
“We appeal to students to not panic and leave the campus. Measures are being taken to normalise the situation on the campus and ensure safety of everyone,” he said after the meeting at the HRD Ministry.