Naqvi condemns JNU scuffle, says, "students should not get violent"

As the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi witnessed massive protests on campus over fee hike, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, reflected upon the issue and said the institution must protect itself from such controversies. Naqvi condemned the entire agitation and also added that the students should not get violent. Scuffle broke out on the JNU campus on Monday, November 11, as the Jawaharlal Nehru Students' Union (JNSU) protested against hostel fee hike. 

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi while speaking to news agency ANI said, "JNU must protect itself from such controversies. It is not right to spread violence and fan anarchy. Nobody is against the students but this is unacceptable. The students should not get violent at all." 

READ | JNU Students Protest Hostel Manual; Clash With Police Amid Convocation

Why are the students protesting?

The students' union has been on a strike against the Draft Hostel Manual which was approved by the Inter-Hall Administration. They claim that the manual has provisions for fee hike, curfew timings and dress code restrictions for students. They have said they will not end the strike until the Hostel Manual is withdrawn. The protest is also part of the students' agitation against the hostel manual and several other issues like restrictions by the administration on entry to Parthasarathy Rocks, attempts to lock students' union office, etc, they said.  Last year, the varsity held its second convocation after a period of 46 years. Last year, the students' union called for boycotting the convocation, accusing JNU VC M Jagadesh Kumar of "muzzling their democratic rights". The first convocation of the university was held in 1972, when G Parthasarathi was the vice-chancellor.

READ | JNU Admin Appeals To Students To End Strike Over Draft Hostel Manual

JNU administration appealed to end strike

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration on November 8, appealed to students, who have been on a strike against a draft hostel manual, to allow the resumption of academic activities. In an appeal signed by the deans of various schools in JNU said that it is a matter of grave concern that academic life in the university has come under severe threat due to the on-going students' strike.

"While the democratic and peaceful mode of protests, dissents and demonstrations are always welcome, the current stir has begun to affect the academic career of thousands of JNU students who come from all sections of the society," the varsity said. 

READ | JNU Admin Clears ' rumours' About Change In Rules Spread By Students

READ | HRD Min to Intervene Amid JNU Protest Over 'fee Hike After 20 Years'