Clashes erupted in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after students of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly prevented left-leaning students from eating non-vegetarian food on Ram Navami today while the ABVP students accused the left-leaning students of interrupting Ram Navami prayers at the Kaveri Hostel, media reports said.

ABVP students have been also accused of assaulting the mess secretary of the Kaveri Hostel on the campus, according to an India Today report

The university issued a notice after the clashes, telling that there is no restriction on consuming of non-vegetarian food in the campus mess.

“Be it Ramzan or Ram Navami… everyone can celebrate it in their way,” JNU Rector Ajay Dubey told India Today TV in an exclusive interview.

“Everyone follows their own religion. The mess is run by the student committee and the menu is decided by them. For the time being, action has been taken. The warden has issued a notice and it has been made clear that every person can worship according to his/her faith. There is no prohibition from the university,” he said.

“ABVP goons have created a violent atmosphere in Kaveri Hostel due to their politics of hate and divisive agenda,” the JNU Student Union (JNUSU) said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, the DCP Southwest said that the situation is currently peaceful. “Both the student parties are protesting peacefully. Appropriate legal action will be taken on receipt of a complaint,” he said, the report stated.

However, the university authorities closed the main gate of the campus was closed after ABVP students moved outside the campus to protest.