New Delhi: Tension flared up at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) late Sunday night after clashes broke out between two student groups, prompting the university administration to step in and warn of strict disciplinary action. The incident, which unfolded on February 22, 2026, has once again brought the spotlight back on the campus amid ongoing protests and simmering political tensions.
In a statement issued on Monday, the university administration described the developments as “disturbing” and said it had taken serious cognisance of the matter. Emphasising the need to maintain an academic environment, the administration cautioned that any form of unruly behaviour or disruption would invite action under university regulations as well as provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Stakeholders were urged to refrain from activities that could disturb peace and harmony on campus.
The clash reportedly involved members of the Left-backed JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) and activists of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Both sides have presented sharply different accounts of what transpired.
According to the JNUSU, students had gathered on the SL-SIS lawns as part of an ongoing protest demanding an apology and resignation from the Vice-Chancellor over her recent remarks concerning UGC equity regulations. The controversy stems from comments in which she allegedly suggested that Dalits could not progress by playing a “victim card” — a statement she later clarified, saying it was not her intention. The union also pointed to the recent rustication of four JNUSU office-bearers and a former president for two semesters over protests against surveillance measures in the central library, an action that has further intensified unrest on campus. The rusticated members have been camping at the protest site for the past week.
The student union alleged that as the gathering swelled, ABVP members began pelting stones and bricks towards the encampment area and physically assaulted protesting students. Several students, they claimed, sustained injuries and were forced to take shelter inside the library building to escape the violence.
The ABVP, however, rejected these allegations and accused Left-affiliated students of initiating aggression. In its response, the organisation claimed its members were attacked and injured, asserting that violence was followed by an attempt to shift blame. It criticised what it described as a recurring pattern of narrative manipulation on campus.
Meanwhile, the administration noted in its statement that certain academic buildings were reportedly locked by a group of protesting students, who allegedly pressured others to join demonstrations. It stated that such actions contributed to the confrontation between the two groups. Condemning any damage to public property and disruption of the university’s inclusive ethos, the administration reiterated that strict measures were being initiated to restore normalcy.
Despite the unrest, university authorities said that classes and other academic activities are continuing as scheduled. Students and faculty have been asked to cooperate in ensuring that the academic calendar remains unaffected.
The latest episode underscores the deepening divisions within the campus community, where political disagreements and administrative actions have increasingly spilled into open confrontation.
