JNU vice-chancellor faces wrath of students and teachers

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Tuesday faced the wrath of students and a group of teachers for approving action against 21 research scholars over the February 9 Afzal Guru event.

He had to adjourn the academic council meeting for an indefinite period as the students joined by teachers began creating ruckus demanding a discussion on the report of a high-level committee which held students guilty of indiscipline. The trouble began soon after the vice-chancellor reached the venue of the meeting at about 2.30 pm inside the campus.

Security personnel deployed outside the meeting room stopped JNU Students’ Union secretary general and a member of the academic council Rama Naga from entering the room. Rama Naga, who is a member of the academic council, had brought along with him a packet of fruits and a bouquet for the vice-chancellor.

But, the security personnel deployed at the gate of the meeting room refused to allow him to go inside with the packets.

This led to a scuffle between Naga and the security personnel. Shehla Rashid, another member of the council and the vice-president of JNUSU, sustained minor injuries in her leg amid these scuffles. They, however entered the meeting room along with other students.

Before the meeting began, Naga, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the last 13 days after being slapped with Rs 20,000 fine, presented his gift to the vice-chancellor.