Delhi: Protests against film screening on 'love jihad' at JNU
What's the story
The screening of a film on the contentious "Love Jihad" issue at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi was disrupted by some student groups, who alleged that a hate campaign was being propagated by showing the movie.
The screening of the film titled "In the Name of Love: Melancholy of God's Own Country", was organized by Global Indian Foundation and Vivekanand Vichar Manch.
Here's more.
The FIlm
Film about love jihad, religious conversion of Kerala girls
According to the organizers, the film, which was directed by Sudipto Sen, focused on the issue of "love jihad" and the religious conversion of girls in Kerala.
The members of Jawaharlal Nehru Students Union and the Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment had disrupted the screening, alleging that a hate campaign was being propagated in the guise of the film's screening.
Love Jihad
Protest against hate propaganda in the name of love jihad
Minor scuffles erupted between protesters and ABVP members. The Delhi Police said it has received complaints from both the sides and is looking into yesterday's incident.
Students opposed to the film had assembled at Sabarmati dhaba to protest the "hate propaganda in the name of love jihad". They breached security cordons and disrupted the screening by holding placards in front of the screen.
Communal venom
Film spreads communal venom and bigotry: JNUSU President
JNUSU President Geeta Kumari claimed the film "spreading communal venom and bigotry" has been screened by the Vivekananda Vichar Mach, a front organization of ABVP.
"JNU students standing up for gender justice and against politics of hate in the name of love jihad protested against such politics. The peaceful demonstrators were showered with eggs and stones to create a situation of chaos," she said.
Quote
Reminiscent of Ramjas College incident: Geeta Kumari
"The JNUSU condemns these anti-social elements that have vitiated the university's atmosphere. It is reminiscent of Ramjas College, where ABVP beat up university students," the JNUSU President Geeta Kumari stated.
Protesters
Won't let RSS's venomous 'Love Jihad' myth be propagated: Protesters
"Why is ABVP/RSS hiding behind Vivekanand Vichar Manch? We won't let the RSS's venomous 'Love Jihad' myth be propagated," said a statement issued by the protesters.
An effigy of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the ABVP was also set on fire to protest the film's screening. In the melee, a few students got injured, while a private security guard had to be hospitalized.
Former JNUSU President
Was an attempt on my life: Former JNUSU President Pandey
Former JNUSU President Mohit Kumar Pandey, who was allegedly attacked by ABVP members, said: "It was an attempt on my life. Big stones were hurled at me and I was attacked with broken glasses. The windshield of my friend's car has been totally shattered."
ABVP said, "After disrupting the screening of the movie at Sabarmati dhaba, the left-wing protesters grievously injured a guard intentionally."