JNU slaps ₹20,000 fine on five students for frying pakodas, another for “Jai Bheem” slogan

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration has slapped a ₹20,000 fine on five students and NSUI members for frying and selling pakodas on campus and ₹10,000 on one of its research scholar for allegedly shouting “Jai Bheem” on Ambedkar Jayanti last year.

According to the administration, the incident pertaining to Dhiman took place on April 14 last year, when the renaming ceremony of a campus library after BR Ambedkar was being held.

The student, Sunny Dhiman, is researching on “Transitions in Agriculture Pest Control Technology Regime in Punjab, India” at the Centre for Studies in Science Policy (CSSP).

“The act of Dhiman is serious in nature and unbecoming of a JNU student. It calls for strict against him,” said JNU administration in a letter. Signed by the proctor, the letter, however, states that “keeping his career prospects in mind, the Vice-Chancellor has taken a somewhat lenient view of the matter.”

Dhiman, a member of Congress’ youth wing, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), has been asked to deposit the fine within 10 days.

Refuting the charge, Dhiman told NH, “I tried to ask a question after Vice-Chancellor’s speech on the seat cut but was not allowed to do so. Then I raised slogans such as Baba Saheb Amar Rahe and Jai Bheem. I did not disrupt the renaming ceremony.”

“I am being harassed for opposing RSS’ ideology on the campus. Recently, while I was in the UK for my studies, the administration sent me email questioning me on the matter. How could they do so when they knew that I was in the UK,” asked Dhiman.

NSUI claimed that along with Yadav and Dhiman, Mukesh Ghatod, Alimudin, Manish Meena and Alam Hussain have also been slapped with a fine of ₹20,000. The students have taken the matter to Delhi High Court where the matter will be heard on Wednesday.

The student, Manish Kumar Meena, who studies at the Centre for Indian Languages, has been asked to change his hostel within 10 days. Along with Meena, four other students also made pakoras inside the varsity to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pakoda comments.

*This story has been updated on July 18 at 05:23pm