Saturday 19 April 2025
Diwali Festivities at Jamia Millia Islamia End in Violence
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A violent clash occurred on Tuesday night at Jamia Milia Islamia University in Delhi during Diwali celebrations. The event, titled Jyotirmay 2024, organized by Rashtriya Kala Manch, faced opposition from some student groups, leading to tensions that escalated into a physical altercation.
The clash began around 7:30 PM near Gate No.7 of the university. Students from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were participating in traditional Diwali festivities, including lighting diyas and making rangolis. This activity reportedly upset another group of students, resulting in conflicts.
Ravi Kumar Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) stated that the opposing group destroyed the decorations, which led to a physical confrontation.
“Both sides engaged in sloganeering. Police were deployed to maintain the peace; they are stationed there for the night as a precautionary measure.”
Ravi Kumar Singh, The Deputy Commissioner of Police
Footages of the incident surfaced on social media, showing a large crowd gathered on campus, illustrating the heated environment during the celebration.
Earlier in the evening, a separate pre-Diwali event known as Deepostav was conducted peacefully by the student group #YUVA. However, this event was disrupted when some members of an opposing group reportedly damaged the rangoli decorations and shouted slogans. This disruption hinted at the larger conflict that was to come.
Police forces were quickly sent to the university campus to restore order following the violence. Authorities remained on site overnight as a precaution. The DCP stated that students were told to disperse, and by 9 PM, the crowd had begun to clear.
In the aftermath, conflicting narratives emerged. The Jamia unit of the Student Federation of India (SFI) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), affiliated with Congress, accused the ABVP of assaulting students while pretending to celebrate Diwali. They denounced the event, labeling it an attack carried out by outside ABVP goons allegedly invited by the university administration.
On the other hand, ABVP representatives refuted these claims, stating that outsiders had entered the campus and provoked the clash by chanting slogans related to Palestine. Ashutosh Singh, ABVPs national media convenor, claimed that their group was not responsible for the ensuing chaos.
This incident is not the first occurrence of violence during cultural events at Jamia Millia Islamia. The university faced a similar disruption during the Holi celebrations in March 2023, which had heightened worries about increasing polarization on campus.
The incident during Diwali festivities reveals persistent tension within the university community. As the administration seeks to address these conflicts, the safety and well-being of students remains paramount. The situation demands creating a more harmonious campus atmosphere.
As investigations continue and campus life stabilizes, many are pondering the impact of these clashes on the universitys cultural dynamics and student relationships. Will the administration implement measures to avert similar occurrences in the future? Only time will reveal the answer.
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