The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is currently witnessing significant tension as students protest against what they perceive as administrative inaction following a sexual harassment incident reported on March 31. The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Santishree D. Pandit, met with the protesters, who have been demonstrating at the campus’s main gate for over a week, and requested that they relocate to Sabarmati Lawns, a designated protest area on campus.
The protest began after a female student alleged that she was sexually harassed by four individuals, including two former students, on campus. Despite the administration’s initiation of an inquiry, the complainant has voiced concerns that the alleged perpetrators are still freely moving on campus.
Vice-Chancellor Pandit’s request to move the protest aimed to alleviate disruptions caused at the main entrance, which she stated was impeding the daily operations for students and staff. She reassured the protesters that appropriate actions would be taken once the area was cleared, promising swift resolution of the matter.
However, the situation escalated when a video surfaced online showing Pandit allegedly threatening the protesters with consequences for their future careers if they did not comply with her request to relocate. The protesters have condemned these actions, claiming that the Vice-Chancellor’s approach was not only unsympathetic but also intimidating, which they believe exacerbates the already strained relations between the administration and the student body.
This incident has sparked a broader debate on the handling of sensitive issues such as sexual harassment in academic institutions, and whether enough is being done to support victims and ensure their safety on campus. The university administration’s next steps are highly anticipated as the community watches closely.