In a statement on Thursday, NSUI, the student wing of Indian National Congress, said the intention of the protest is getting defeated in the debates over form of protest. 

“Purpose of this demonstration by JNU NSUI was to protest against the imposition of RSS ideology upon students within educational institutions. Since Vijaydashmi marks the victory of good over evil, this demonstration was meant to mark the defeat of ‘evil’ RSS ideology,” the NSUI statement said.

The statement further said: “In between the debates on the form of protest, the intention behind it is getting defeated. The protest was a manifestation of the anger boiling up among students. Although this act doesn’t find place in NSUI Code of Conduct, it is completely democratic and an acceptable form of marking protest.”

NSUI insiders said the organization has sought explanation from its cadre in JNU unit. 

JNU administration on Thursday remained tight-lipped about the incident on Thursday maintaining that it’s investigating the matter. There was no word about the status of investigation.

“The effigy burning incident at JNU was brought to our notice. We are investigating the matter and examing all relevant information,” JNU Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar had tweeted on Wednesday. 

“I have no idea right now. We are examining the matter,” Prof. A. P. Dimri, Chief Proctor, JNU told ScoopWhoop News. He refused to comment further. 

On the eve of Dussehra, JNU students belonging to (NSUI) burnt down the effigy of PM Modi as Ravan, claiming that it was a protest against the Centre’s “failure” in honouring its promises and the continuous attacks on various educational institutions across the country.

Apart from Modi, the ten-headed effigy of Ravana also had faces of BJP President Amit Shah, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Sadhvi Pragya, Nathuram Godse, Asaram Bapu and JNU Vice-Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar. 

However, the students claim there’s nothing controversial with the burning of effigies. 

“Effigy-burning is not new in JNU. It’s a regular form of protest. JNU students have shown black flags to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he came to the campus in 2005. The entire frenzy over the effigy burning in JNU is being done to deviate the focus from the failures of Modi government,” an NSUI activist told ScoopWhoop News on the condition of anonymity. 

Meanwhile, JNU Students’ Union has called for protest demo on Friday against the “regime of permissions and surveillance on protests and public meetings” in the campus. 

Feature image source: NSUI/Facebook