New Delhi, (14th April 2022): In JNU, the Vice Chancellor, Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit has maintained that in the college premises, students have the freedom to eat whatever food they want. There will be no restrictions imposed on them.
The Vice Chancellor stated the decision, soon after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Left-wing groups were involved in violent protests and riots over non- vegetarian food being served on Ram Navami.
“All the 17 hostels in JNU and their messes are run by the committees that consist of students and wardens. They themselves decide what they want to eat in a very democratic and decentralised manner.” Pandit said.
However, in the Kaveri hostel, some students had planned a havan on Ram Navami while an Iftar party was organised by some other students simultaneously. This led to the outbreak of protests among the students.
“I want to change the ‘public image’ of the university. About 90% of the students in JNU are nationalists and are not involved in campus politics. It is the fundamental right of the students to eat what they want.” The Vice Chancellor said.
Although the Vice Chancellor believes that the students are free to decide for themselves. Therefore, if they want to approach the police, they are free to do so as India is a democratic country.
“Whatever happened is very unfortunate. The hostel staff will be careful in the future. We have also submitted a report of the incident to the education ministry,” Pandit added.
