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Row over RSS-affliated oufit''s rally in JNU, students union lodges complaint

NEW DELHI: In an alleged security breach at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here, a group of outsiders on Wednesday was seen holding "unlawful" rally with banners of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on JNU campus.

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Ananya Panda
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 5

In an alleged security breach at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here, a group of outsiders on Wednesday was seen holding "unlawful" rally with banners of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on JNU campus.

"Communal" slogans were purportedly raised to stoke fear and violence by participants of the procession, said JNU Students' Union which demanded action by administration against the G4S security agency, in-charge of security in the university, and chief security officer Naveen Yadav over the incident.

The students' body lodged a complaint with varsity vice-chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar and held a peaceful protest at North Gate demanding action in matter, but the administration kept "mum" on the issue.

The JNUSU also slammed the varsity administration accusing it of "providing patronage" to a particular political party (BJP whose ideological fountainhead is RSS) and allowing the campus to be misused by the BJP-led Centre.

The incident happened between 9-10 am today when outsiders in trucks and cars barged into the JNU campus through Saraswati Puram Gate breaching the security.

A video clip shared on social media showed members of Swadeshi Jagran Manch brandishing saffron flags during the rally, but the varsity's security department feigned ignorance about the unauthorised entry.

The security authorities "failed" to report the incident to the nearest Vasant Kunj police station raising questions on its "competence and efficiency" at a time when a major portion of the Rs 17 crore earmarked for security by the administration goes to the G4S, as per the JNUSU.

"The budget of JNU security has been increased by 89 per cent during the past two years, but the security authorities have failed to provide a safe campus to the students, faculty and staff here. We have lodged our complaint with the VC and asked him to file an FIR against the intruders who create an environment of fear in campus," said JNUSU president N Sai Balaji.

"We were told by the security personnel that there was no prior permission for such a rally organised by these outsiders in the campus who, holding saffron flags, were vitiating the campus environment with communal slogans and were instigating an atmosphere of fear and violence," said JNUSU in a statement issued hours after the incident.

The administration, which penalises and punishes students, teachers and karmacharis for peaceful and democratic protests against its wrong policies, has failed to deal with such a major security concern promptly, it claimed.

"It is unfortunate that JNU administration time and again showing political partisanship towards the ruling dispensation," claimed a JNUSU member.

In September, the JNU administration had banned rallies, protests and processions on the campus in the wake of students' violence and clashes in JNU during this year's JNUSU polls.

Today's incident assumes significance as in February 2016 the JNU drew a lot of flak after three students, including two office bearers of Left-led JNUSU, were slapped with sedition case filed in connection with an event organised on campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

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