JNU Students’ Union Alleges Vandalism of Portraits by ABVP

On Monday, the Left-led JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) alleged that members of the RSS-affiliate Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had vandalised the portraits of Periyar, Bhagat Singh, Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Karl Marx, Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule and several other icons installed on the university campus. JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh stated that the ABVP had also vandalised the walls inside the SU office. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condemned the attack on Tamil students allegedly by ABVP members and requested the vice chancellor to initiate action against the culprits. The ABVP denied the charges and accused the “Left group” of removing a garland from a picture of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and throwing it away. The JNUSU alleged that the ABVP was trying to disturb the communal harmony inside the campus. The university administration said any activity on the premises of inter-hall-administration, hostels, students activity centre (Teflas) and sports grounds would require formal permission and any event organised without due permission would invite disciplinary action.