NEW DELHI: A Union Minister has come forward justifying the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the clash between student organizations at the Kaveri Hostel in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in Delhi, on Monday, over Ram Navami Pooja and meat-eating. Union minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said that there is nothing wrong if some students took a stand to not consume non-vegetarian food on Ram Navami Day.

“Our country belongs to all communities and sentiments of all communities should be respected. Ram Navami is a sacred festival of Hindus and in such a scenario, I think if some students had taken a stand to not consume non-veg on that day, their stand is not wrong. There should not be any conflict over consumption of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food and people should respect each other’s sentiments”, he said.

At least 16 students were injured in the clash between ABVP and other Left organizations in JNU, last day. A strong guard has been deployed by the police following the incident. The Left-wing student groups accused ABVP activists of unleashing violence after banning non-vegetarian food at the Kaveri hostel. However, the ABVP alleged that they did not oppose serving meat and that the Left students’ organizations were unleashing violence in order to prevent the Ram Navami Puja.

The two groups, which clashed on the JNU campus on Sunday night, had thrown stones against each other and waged widespread violence. Following the conflict, the hostel authorities did not allow the students to organize the Ram Navami Puja or the Iftar dinner. The warden of the hostel also issued a notice on Sunday stating that prior permission must be obtained for conducting religious events in the hostel. Following the incident, JNU Vice Chancellor Professor Santhishree Dhulipudi visited the hostel and evaluated the situation.