JNU: Stone pelting, chaos and blackout ahead of students’ screening of BBC documentary

The Jawaharlal Nehru University witnessed massive violence on Tuesday night after the administration cut the electricity supply of the campus as several students gathered at the JNU students’ union office for screening of the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Authority suspends Internet

Amidst the chaos, the authorities also have suspended internet services to stop the students from screening and watching the series. The series has already been blocked from various platforms by the Central government.

Stones Thrown at Students

JNU students claimed that the violence turned out to be political as members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) threw stones at the JNU students, who had come to watch the series. Moreover, slogans were raised against the varsity’s administration.

Also, the students claimed that they were attacked when they were watching the documentary on their smartphones. However, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated student body denied the charges.

In a tweet, ANI informed, “JNU students march towards Vasant Kunj police station claiming ABVP pelted stones over screening of BBC documentary.'”

JNU Admin yet to release statement

JNU administration is yet to release an official statement on the claims made by the students. Despite that, it warned students on Monday against the screening and issued an advisory. The students’ union did not seek permission for the event and that it should be called off.

Speaking to the media, the JNU administration said, “There is a major (power) line fault at the university. We are looking into it. The engineering department is saying it will be resolved at the earliest.”

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ABVP behind it: Students’ union

The secretary of JNU-All India Students Association (AISA), Madhurima said, “Some students had seen ABVP activists pelting stones and recognized them.”

“Also, a teacher called and said that some goons around the main gate, in masks, were talking about weapons,” she added.

National president of the Congress’s NSUI, Neeraj Kundan said, “Prior to the screening, the JNU administration has cut all power sources and jammed the internet to prevent students from watching the reality of communal history, the ruling party and its warlord Modi.”

“The ABVP also started stone pelting during screening. Despite such attempts, students joined in hundreds to watch the series on their own. The spirit of JNU and its politically responsible student community remains high even as threats of violence by the ABVP and disciplinary action by the administration. The students yet again were victorious in standing by the principles of secularism and equality. It is a war cry to the fascists inside and outside the campus that their agenda will not be successful in JNU or the country,” Neeraj added.