JNU teachers allege violence by students during council meet

A section of JNU teachers has accused the students union members of resorting to violence while a discussion on introduction of courses in yoga and Indian culture was going on at the Academic Council meeting last week.
They also alleged that the union members had attacked a teacher, who did not wish to be identified, during the meeting.
The students union, however, denied the allegations.
"They shouted intimidatory and belligerent slogans to threaten, destroy and kill the professor. They had gone so berserk and unbridled that they banged the (professor's) car with the intention to injure or physically abuse the faculty," the teachers said in a complaint to the Vice Chancellor.

When the JNU security personnel tried to make way for the teacher's car, the students lay on the road to stop the vehicle, they claimed.
The professor has also filed a police complaint at Vasant Kunj North police station.

A police officer said a complaint has been received and the matter is being looked into.
The teachers have also submitted a memorandum of demands to the Vice Chancellor in wake of the alleged violence.
"An immediate enquiry in the alleged violence be ordered and show cause notices be issued to the students involved in leading the JNUSU group to violence.

"The administration should ensure that on the day of the Academic Council or any other official meeting which involves crucial decisions for the university academics, no student or any other agitation should be allowed around the location of the meeting and staging of any demonstration should be banned," the memorandum said.
The meeting of the Academic Council (AC), the statutory decision making body of the university was held last week during which a proposal to introduce short term courses in Yoga and Indian culture was rejected due to lack of majority.