Non-veg served at SAU mess in Delhi on Mahashivratri leads to ruckus

Credit: X

A clash broke out between student groups at South Asian University (SAU) in Delhi on Wednesday after non-vegetarian food was served at the university mess on Mahashivratri.

The clash erupted between the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Students Federation of India (SFI). There have been accusations of violence incitement from both student organisations.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, a group of students—including a female student—are shown getting into a physical altercation in the campus mess. SAU students claimed that the altercation was caused by the members of ABVP.

According to an official statement of SFI, the ABVP members attacked the students in the university mess for not complying with their demand that non-vegetarian food should not be served on Mahashivratri.

The SAU members have called on the administration to take swift action against the offenders.

Countering the claims made by SAU members, the ABVP also released an official statement wherein they refuted the allegations, and alleged that the SFI members had tried to forcefully distribute non-vegetarian food in a mess meant for students who were fasting.

The members of the ABVP contended that this action was an attempt to disturb religious harmony and a violation of religious freedom. The group has called for an unbiased investigation and retribution against the guilty.

According to the police, a PCR call regarding the clash was received from South Asian University at around 3.45 pm in Maidangarhi Police Station. “When we reached the spot, there was an altercation taking place between two groups in the mess,” The Hindustan Times quoted a police officer as saying.

Additionally, the Delhi SFI claimed in a video shared on their X feed that the ABVP members had attacked female students at the SAU mess. "The ABVP attacks women students in SAU. Showing their cowardice and anti-women attitude, ABVP attacked women students in SAU. We condemn the ABVP's actions in the fiercest terms and extend solidarity to the courageous students of SAU," SFI Delhi said in the post.