Clashes at JNU During Durga Immersion and Ravan Dahan

A tense situation unfolded at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi when clashes broke out between ABVP and Left-affiliated student groups during Durga idol immersion and Ravan Dahan events. The Left groups alleged that ABVP burnt effigies of former students Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, accusing them of communal propaganda. ABVP claimed its immersion procession was attacked and described the effigy burning as symbolic of ending “anti-national ideologies.”

Videos from the campus showed students raising slogans and engaging in scuffles, while security personnel formed a human chain to prevent escalation. ABVP maintained that the Left groups threw stones and abused students, resulting in several injuries. The joint secretary of JNUSU from ABVP described the incident as an assault on the cultural harmony of the university.

The Left-affiliated outfits rejected ABVP’s claims, questioning why figures like Nathuram Godse or Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh were not depicted as Ravan. They stated that the incident reflected politics of hate and Islamophobia, and reiterated their opposition to glorifying violence on campus.

For Tier-2 cities and beyond, the incident highlights the increasing politicization of student spaces and cultural events. While festivals like Durga immersion are meant to foster community, clashes over ideological symbolism have raised concerns about safety and campus harmony.

The university administration has called for calm, urging students to avoid further confrontation. As investigations continue, the focus remains on restoring order and ensuring that cultural celebrations can proceed without violence or political interference.