A student body meeting at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) turned violent earlier this week, leading to injuries, allegations of regional discrimination, and accusations of political disruption just ahead of the campus elections. The chaos unfolded during a General Body Meeting (GBM) at the School of Social Sciences (SSS) on October 15, intended to elect members to the student-run JNUSU Election Commission.

The situation reportedly spiraled after a Left-affiliated councillor allegedly made derogatory remarks about students from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, a claim strongly condemned by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). “When the councillors were reading a report at the GBM, one of the Left councillors said that students from UP and Bihar ‘do not deserve this university and should go elsewhere,’” said Abhishek Rai, an ABVP councillor.

According to Rai, this comment sparked outrage from students, who demanded both an apology and condemnation of the statement by the session chair. When that didn’t happen, a physical confrontation allegedly broke out. “Left-wing cadres attacked female students and others, and the president of JNU himself reportedly led the assault,” he claimed, adding that ABVP members were beaten with sticks and chairs were hurled, causing injuries.

ABVP Slams ‘Regional Hatred’ in JNU Clash

The ABVP, in an official response, described the incident as “an insult to the dignity of JNU,” stating: “When students affiliated with the ABVP tried to peacefully protest and express their views democratically, the Leftist students attacked them. Several students, including female students, were injured in the violence.” They also alleged that one councillor said students from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and those aligned with ABVP, should be removed from the university premises.

On the other side, student organisations including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students’ Association (AISA) have accused ABVP of orchestrating the violence. An SFI representative alleged, “The ABVP resorted to violence when they failed to get their way during the meeting. Several of our comrades, including women students, were injured.”

In a statement titled “ABVP’s Hooliganism in JNU School GBMs,” AISA said: “Yet again ABVP’s hooliganism and violence is disrupting democratic practices in JNU. When students began to question, they began beating students who were present in the GBM.” They also accused ABVP of heckling councillors and snatching a student’s phone.

Union Prez Targeted in JNU Clash, Says JNUSU

Further, JNUSU General Secretary Munteha Fatima claimed that the union’sABV president Nitish Kumar was targeted. “Nitish Kumar was gheraoed for more than an hour by ABVP goons… He was beaten multiple times,” she alleged.

AISA linked the unrest to fears over electoral defeat: “Due to this, their (ABVP’s) defeat is guaranteed in this election. This is the reason they are resorting to violence to disrupt the electoral process.”

Alok, another SFI leader, criticised ABVP’s silence on issues affecting students, accusing the group of aligning with university administration to sabotage student movements. “Why are they silent on issues like JNU fund cuts and the poor condition of hostels?” he asked.

Police Call It ‘Minor Scuffle’; Students Hospitalised

Although the Delhi Police described the confrontation as a “minor scuffle” and reported no injuries officially, eyewitnesses and photos suggest multiple students, including women, were hurt and later treated at Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS. Police were deployed through the night, and plainclothes officers continued to monitor the campus.

As of now, no official complaint has been submitted by either side to the police or university authorities. The administration is expected to review reports from the involved parties before considering any disciplinary action.

With the JNUSU elections scheduled for early November, the clash has heightened existing tensions between Left-aligned groups and the ABVP a rivalry that often turns confrontational during election season. Both factions are expected to hold separate press briefings to share their version of events.