Scores of students and several students’ bodies staged a protest in Assam against the violence that broke out in Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on the evening of January 5th, 2020.

The Students’ Federation of India and All India Students Federation staged protests in the state and also burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The protesting students also chanted slogans against BJP-led union government, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

The students demanded stern action against those involved in the violence at the JNU. The students of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati also expressed solidarity with their peers at the JNU and condemned the barbaric attack on students and teachers.

“We demand the government to take appropriate action against the perpetrators of the violence at the JNU,” a student said.

The students at the Sabarmati Hostel, Mahi Mandvi Hostel, Periyar Hostel hostels of JNU were by ‘masked mob’ on January 5th, 2020. Several students and teachers were injured in the attack.

Though the JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on January 6th, 2020 issued an appeal to all students to maintain peace on the campus, the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) blamed Kumar for allowing the attack on students and teachers on the campus and also called for his resignation. 

The JNUSU and the ABVP blamed each other for the violence that continued for over two hours.

Photo: @sayanika-deka