A clash erupted between students from the Left outfits and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) early Tuesday during a University Governing Body Meeting (UGBM) at the Jawaharlal Nehru University over alleged derogatory remarks against Lord Ram.

 The JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) alleged that the ABVP members hurled casteist slurs at office-bearers of JNUSU. The meeting was convened by the JNUSU to discuss their participation in the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) elections — a body established to address sexual harassment complaints on campus.

 The JNUSU has long been opposing the setting up of ICC in place of Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) which was scrapped by the varsity in 2017. In a statement on Tuesday, the JNUSU alleged that ABVP members disrupted the proceedings of the UGBM by forcibly occupying the stage, and heckled and threatened its members.

“As habitual offenders, the ABVP started disrupting the UGBM. They heckled JNUSU President Dhananjay, Vice President Avijit Ghosh, and Joint Secretary Mohammad Sajid, as well as other students who came to share their views. They also directed casteist slurs at Dhananjay, calling him 'neech'," the statement said.    

According to the JNUSU, ABVP members also threatened Sajid, saying "tumko bhi Najeeb bana denge", a reference to the disappearance of Najeeb Ahmed (a student of JNU who went missing from his hostel in 2016). JNUSU President Dhananjay said, “Ever since a Dalit student has become the president of JNUSU, ABVP and RSS are worried.  Yesterday I was abused with casteist slurs, called 'neech' (lowly). They think they will get away by doing this, but it won't happen! I have come to the university to study while fighting Manuism and casteism in the society.

And I will fight your casteist ideology till my last breath.”

 The meeting, which lasted until 2:30 am, had to be adjourned due to the chaos. Meanwhile, the ABVP accused the Left students' outfits of making derogatory remarks against Lord Ram.