New Delhi: A day after a row broke out over non-vegetarian food being served in the university mess on Maha Shivratri, students of South Asian University (SAU) have called for the resignation of the dean of students and proctor for not addressing the situation appropriately.
Recounting the altercation, a group of students alleged that members of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) created a disturbance and assaulted fellow students for having non-vegetarian food.
However, the ABVP accused members of the left-leaning Students’ Federation of India (SFI) of forcing non-vegetarian food on them and abusing and attacking them for observing their faith. The ABVP also labelled the SFI-affiliated students as “Maoists”.
On Thursday, students claimed they lodged a formal complaint in the matter. However, the police denied receiving any formal, official complaint by the time of filing this report.
“A PCR call regarding the quarrel came from South Asian University at 3.45 pm in PS Maidangarhi. When the police reached the spot, no quarrel was taking place. We found out there had been a quarrel between two groups in the mess,” said DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan.
“The situation, as of now, is peaceful, and the police have not received a formal complaint in this regard,” he said.
The inquiry into the matter is ongoing, according to officials at the university. “There was an altercation between a few students, and the matter is under inquiry. The university will take appropriate measures,” SAU public relations officer O.P. Yadav told ThePrint.
Another controversy had rocked the university last year, when a student cited American philosopher Noam Chomsky’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Subsequently, Sasanka Perera, a founding member of the sociology department at SAU, was allegedly forced to take voluntary retirement after screening a movie for students. The SAU administration, according to students, has been increasingly restricting campus activities.
Also Read: ‘Revoke suspension’ of SAU profs — 500+ academics from Indian, foreign universities write to SAARC
ABVP vs SFI, other students
Talking about the sequence of events, several students ThePrint spoke to said that ABVP members attacked Master’s student Yashada Sawant—the mess representative—after she tried to stop them from creating a disturbance over the serving of fish.
“The menu is fixed here, and fish is included every Wednesday. This Wednesday was not an exception. We have students from various South Asian states. Therefore, no one belief system is being followed here at the campus,” a second-year Master’s student told ThePrint, requesting anonymity.
In a video shared on Thursday, Sawant recounted the incident, explaining that SAU students typically sit and eat together peacefully, regardless of food preferences. “There were special arrangements for students observing the Maha Shivratri fast, and they came to eat. However, a group of students led by Ratan Singh (a PhD scholar) entered and attempted to throw out the fish curry. As a mess representative, I intervened to stop him,” she said.
Describing the assault, she said, “He (Ratan Singh) punched me in the face, touched me inappropriately, and tried to pull my hair. I screamed, but they did not stop. This attack was an assault on all students on campus. We are not Maoists or SFI members. We are just ordinary students.”
In response, ABVP National General Secretary Virendra Singh Solanki posted on X, saying, “Shocking! On Maha Shivratri, SFI goons at SAU forcibly tried to break students’ fast by forcing non-veg on them, abusing, and assaulting them! Religious freedom is a constitutional right! Why is it under attack on campus? Will the so-called secular brigade stay silent now? ABVP demands immediate strict action against these anti-social elements!”
SFI Delhi also issued a statement, saying, “ABVP viciously attacked the students of SAU in the university mess because they were not complying with ABVP’s draconian and undemocratic demand that no non-veg should be served in the university mess owing to Maha Shivratri. University mess is a common place for all students, and the imposition of the dietary practices of any one community on the larger student community is undemocratic and unsecular.”
In a video shared by ABVP Delhi on its X account, a student named Divya Upadhyay recounted her side of the story, explaining that she and several other students were fasting and wanted the non-vegetarian food to be kept separate from the “satvik” food. “The non-veg food was placed near the ‘satvik’ food, and when we raised this issue with the mess manager and mess representative, they refused to move the non-veg food,” she said in the video. “We then sought help from a senior, but when he tried to intervene, they created a disturbance and began causing a ruckus with us.”
When contacted, Ratan Singh denied the allegations of attacking Yashada Sawant or any other female student. He explained that the fasting students had no issue with fish servings.
“The only request the students made was to have satvik food served in a separate room so they could eat in peace. However, the mess representative refused to accommodate this request. When students raised the issue, she began inappropriately behaving,” he told ThePrint.
Singh further clarified that he never physically harmed any female student and that some male students attacked him first. “The female student in question, actually, opposed the idea of preparing ‘satvik’ food for the fasting students. Additionally, the students had to pay an extra Rs 60 for the ‘satvik‘ food. Therefore, all the allegations are completely false,” he said.
Students’ demands
A section of students released a statement, making various demands on Thursday. They call for the immediate expulsion of some students, including Ratan Singh, who was allegedly involved in the assault on Yashada Sawant and other students.
The students are also calling for the Delhi Police to register an FIR against those responsible for the attack on Yashada Sawant and other students, ensuring justice. They have demanded that a functioning University complaints committee, with adequate student representation, be immediately established to address grievances effectively.
Additionally, they want the current dean of students and proctor to resign.
“The students of SAU stand united against the violence of the Sangh Parivar in its attempt at communalisation and fascisation of the campus. We urge the student body—at large—and all democratic and justice-minded individuals to stand by us in our struggle!” the statement issued by ‘Students of SAU’ said.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
The ABVP must be commended for standing up for Indian culture and heritage.
SAU might belong to all of South Asia but it’s located in India. There is no reason why it should not respect Indian culture and festivals. Mahashivratri is a pan-India festival celebrated with fasting and then breaking the fast with vegetarian delicacies. There was absolutely no necessity for SAU canteen to serve non-vegetarian dishes on this day.
The Left-liberal cabal has repeatedly shown that it is willing to stoop to any level to offend Indian sensibilities and culture. The SFI has often held “beef parties” and mocked Indian festivals.
The ABVP deserves our gratitude. Kudos to the ABVP leadership.
The woes of South Asian University go beyond chicken and fish being served in the common dining hall. A symbol of cooperation and joint endeavour on the subcontinent. Somehow being dragged down by other issues that have sunk SAARC as well.