JNU VC Jagadesh Kumar skips meeting with HRD ministry officials

Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Monday (January 6) skipped a meeting with Human Resource Development ministry officials, even as he came under heavy criticism over inaction to stop the violence the campus witnessed on Sunday (January 5).

The meeting was attended by JNU registrar, proctor and other administration officials. “HRD secretary Amit Khare held a meeting with team of JNU authorities, including pro-VC Chintamani Mahapatra, Registrar Promod Kumar, Rector Rana Pratap Singh and Proctor Dhananjay Singh, today. The secretary held detailed discussion with them and was also briefed about the current situation in JNU,” a senior HRD Ministry official said.

The ministry had on Sunday sought an immediate report from JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar after the violence broke out and students and teachers were attacked. There was heavy deployment of police on Monday outside the Shashtri Bhawan here which houses the HRD Ministry.

“A detailed report has been sent to the HRD Ministry about the sequence of events. The top administration officials are at the ministry to provide all details leading to the present situation,” JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar said.

Violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night as a group of masked people armed with sticks attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in the police.

Many sustained injuries and were admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre here. They were discharged on Monday.  The Left-controlled JNUSU and the ABVP blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours.