NEW DELHI, Jan 6: A group of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah inside the campus on Monday night, following the Supreme Court’s denial of bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 riots conspiracy case.
A video of the protest showed students chanting slogans condemning the Prime Minister and Home Minister. Aditi Mishra, president of the JNU Students’ Union, clarified that the protest was ideological and symbolic, aimed at condemning violence, and not directed personally at anyone.
“No complaint regarding the slogans has been received so far,” a senior police officer added.
Background: 2020 Campus Violence
The protest coincides with the anniversary of the January 5, 2020 violence on JNU campus, when a mob of masked men attacked three hostels, assaulting students with sticks, stones, and iron rods. The chaos lasted nearly two hours, leaving at least 28 people injured, including then JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh.
The Delhi Police faced criticism for inaction during the attack and for filing FIRs that named student leaders, including Ghosh, in connection with the vandalism.
The annual protest at JNU is intended to commemorate the victims and highlight student safety concerns, though it has often attracted attention due to slogans targeting political figures.