VD Savarkar signboard vandalised in JNU campus

NEW DELHI: Day after the administration of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) named a road after Sangh parivar icon Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the board was vandalised by unknown entities.

The board was painted black, a move which has been criticised by the JNU Teachers' Federation (JNUTF).

"Anti-social elements who vandalised the name of Veer Savarkar must be punished. First they vandalised Vivekananda statue, then Veer Savarkar. JNUTF strongly condemns such vandalism," they said in a statement.

JNU administration had said that strict action will be taken against the culprits. However, JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, while expressing that Savarkar's name would not be accepted, posted a picture where, "B.R. Ambedkar Marg" was painted atop "V.D. Savarkar Marg".

"We can never ever accept apologists and stooges of the British who undermined our secular fabric. Let's respect those who gave us our constitution," she said on Twitter on Monday.

A road in the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus has been named after V.D. Savarkar, which has created a new stir among the varsity communities. The practice of naming roads started some time back during the varsity's Executive Council meetings. "Decision was taken in 283rd EC meeting held on November 13, 2019," said a statement from the Vice-Chancellor's office.

The same meeting — that took place out of campus — had also decided to hike the hostel fees for students.

The other names recorded and proposed in the meeting was of Guru Ravidas Marg; Rani Abbaka Marg; Abdul Hamid Marg; Maharishi Valmiki Marg; Rani Jhansi Marg; Veer Shivaji Marg; Maharana Pratap Marg and Sardar Patel Marg.