JNU Violence ‘state-sponsored’, VC ‘mastermind’ of attack’: Cong fact-finding team

January 12: Unveiling a 26-page fact-finding report at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday, former MP and Mahila Congress President, Sushmita Dev said that Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar was the “mastermind” behind January 5 campus violence. She also stated that the attack on the students and faculty members of JNU was ‘state-sponsored.’

Accusing the Vice Chancellor responsible for the horrific attack on the varsity, she demanded his immediate ouster. The Congress has also asked for a criminal investigation to be initiated against the VC and the security company manning the campus. Serious questions have also been raised on the role of the Chief Security Officer Navin, Periyar Hostel Warden and Delhi Police in enabling the violence on JNU campus on 5 January.

Calling VC Kumar the “mastermind” behind the incident, Mahila Congress Chief said since his appointment in 2016, he meticulously “infiltrated” the university with people in the faculty who did not merit their positions and promoted only those who would be compliant to him and had their inclination to right-wing ideology.

LIVE: AICC Press briefing by Fact Finding Committee on JNU Violence at Congress HQ https://t.co/3sxHCdUa1v

— Congress Live (@INCIndiaLive) January 12, 2020

Ms. Dev said, “The crisis on the campus is a culmination of his mis-governance and autocracy. He deliberately imposed his decision on the students and teachers without due process and then refused to engage with the duly elected student and teacher representatives which led to the deadlock.” Congress demanded immediate rollback of the fee hike as implemented by the university authorities and recognition of JNU Students’ Union as an elected body so that proper consultation can take place between the administration and the students on the fee and other issues.

As regards the deadlock about fees hike, Sushmita Dev said, “VC of #JNU is keen move on. Then why didn’t he respond to @JNUSUofficial letter on 2/1/20 to resolve crises through dialogue. JNUSU even supported registration for new semester & only asked that old fee be accepted. The VC created deadlock not students.”

VC of #JNU is keen move on. Then why didn’t he respond to @JNUSUofficial letter on 2/1/20 to resolve crises through dialogue.

JNUSU even supported registration for new semester & only asked that old fee be accepted. The VC created deadlock not students. pic.twitter.com/fG5IixoxzZ

— Sushmita Dev (@sushmitadevinc) January 12, 2020

In her twitter handle Sushmita Dev made a very serious allegation against the Vice Chancellor of JNU. She wrote, “Did you know that #JNU VC wanted to hold exams from 12/1219 on Whats App & mail. Can foreign languages exams requiring viva be done on what’s App ?Can it be monitored that who is writing answers? It’s a mockery of a prestigious institution. See the JNUTA letter.”

Did you know that #JNU VC wanted to hold exams from 12/1219 on Whats App & mail. Can foreign languages exams requiring viva be done on what’s App ?Can it be monitored that who is writing answers?

It’s a mockery of a prestigious institution. See the JNUTA letter. #JNUFeeHike pic.twitter.com/9oCP0XeD7B

— Sushmita Dev (@sushmitadevinc) January 12, 2020

A four-member fact finding team led by former Congress MP and women’s wing chief Sushmita Dev, and three student leaders – MP Hibi Eden, student wing National Students Union of India’s former President Amrita Dhawan and MP and former JNU Students Union President Syed Nasir Hussain visited Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) over the past few days and put together a report after interaction with the students and teachers.

Also Read: Congress fact-finding team led by Sushmita Dev visits JNU, to submit report soon