The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) faction of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) claimed that miscreants have damaged a signboard of the Vivekananda Marg at the university and sought disciplinary action. But the photograph submitted as proof hardly proves intent to deface. It rather looks like the board has cracked.
The ABVP claimed that this is an "attempt to undermine Indian cultural ethos and sentiments" and that the "repetitive" attempts by "miscreants in JNU" come from an "anti-cultural mindset". The Swami Vivekananda statue near the Administrative block was damaged as well. Shivam Chaurasia, President of the JNU ABVP said, “The damage caused earlier to Swami Vivekananda statue had immensely hurt the sentiments for hundreds of students. Such troubled mindset to hurt other cultural and religious sentiments should be condemned at all costs. JNU administration must take strict actions against the individual or group who have done the damage to the Vivekananda Marg signboard."
But a mere crack on the board does not mean that there was an attempt to deface it, said a source at the JNUSU. "The ABVP want to make everything an issue. If there is any defacing, there needs to be action taken on whoever is responsible. But this does not seem like an attempt to deface. The board has broken. This should not be made into an issue without reason," they said.
But the ABVP said that these activities undermine the very being of JNU. “Such intolerant activities are undermining the very nature of JNU. Earlier also such damage to cultural personalities like Savarkar was made by elements having anti-social tendencies. The Admin must take action on this,” said Govind Dangi, Secretary ABVP JNU.
