Students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) staged a protest at the Ganga Dhaba at 11 am on Friday alleging that the administration is planning to close down the eatery.
The owner of the eatery —one of the favourite hotspots on the campus and the perfect place for debates — was served an eviction notice last week and was asked to vacate the place by Friday morning, said sources. However, the students gathered at the dhaba protesting against the alleged order by the administration.
“The new JNU administration is proving itself as an agent, trying to destroy JNU in every manner. It has left no single instance to take the opportunity to implement all its diktats to stiffle democracy on the campus. It has been using the February 9 incident as a pretext to justify all its decisions,” JNUSU General Secretary Rama Naga said.
“Now, it has decided to shutdown the Ganga Dhaba forever. The administration has sent a ‘final letter’ to the owner of the Ganga Dhaba by saying that it will shut down the eatery,” he added.
JNU Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar said the administration does not intend to “close down” the dhaba but all commercial spaces operating on the campus have to adhere to rules.
According to the JNU administration, the dhaba owner Bharat Tomar doesn’t have a license to function there.
“Ganga Dhaba is not being closed by the JNU administration. It is considered as JNU heritage. Since the present occupant is illegally occupying the premises, he has been asked to vacate the place so that tendering procedure may be initiated at the earliest to run the eatery,” a senior varsity official said.
“Tomar is free to apply for the tender and seek a new contract,” he added.