Several people across the country have taken to streets to protest against the brutal attack on students and professors of Jawaharlal Nehru University by a masked mob last night.

Over a 100 masked men, armed with sticks and stones, barged into the JNU campus yesterday evening and violence erupted soon after as the students and professors were viciously attacked. The students have alleged that members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the youth wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), were behind the attack.

However, the ABVP has denied their involvement in violence and has claimed that the left-leaning students attacked them first. We were attending a peaceful protest at the university on student fee hike, trying to resolve the issue. Minutes later, masked goons targetted us near the Sabarmati Hostel. I was attacked with iron rods, Jawaharlal Nehru students' union chief Aishe Ghosh, who was seen bleeding profusely, reportedly said.

Over 35 students were badly injured and admitted to the AIIMS and one of the doctors at the hospital has stated that the mob attacked the doctors and hospital staff as well, and broke the ambulance's glass and windows. Our team of doctors, nurses & medical volunteers who reached JNU to give first aid to injured students & teachers, was attacked by hundreds of goons. Mob manhandled doctors, nurses & threatened them. Our ambulance's glass & windows broken, this is totally inhuman & insane, he has mentioned.

Several politicians have condemned the barbaric attack, MP and former president of the INC Rahul Gandhi has indirectly described the government's rule as a fascist one. He stated, The brutal attack on JNU students & teachers by masked thugs, that has left many seriously injured, is shocking. The fascists in control of our nation, are afraid of the voices of our brave students. Today’s violence in JNU is a reflection of that fear.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, an alumnus of JNU, stated, Have seen pictures of what is happening in JNU. Condemn the violence unequivocally. This is completely against the tradition and culture of the university.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's statement read, I am so shocked to know about the violence at JNU. Students attacked brutally. Police should immediately stop violence and restore peace. How will the country progress if our students will not be safe inside university campus?

Senior Congress leader and former Union finance minister, P Chidambaram, said, What we are seeing on Live TV is shocking and horrifying. Masked men enter JNU hostels and attack students. What are the police doing? Where is the police commissioner?

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee stated, We strongly condemn brutality unleashed agst students/teachers in JNU. No words enough to describe such heinous acts. A shame on our democracy. Trinamool delegation led by Dinesh Trivedi (SajdaAhmed, ManasBhunia, VivekGupta) headed to DEL to show solidarity with Shaheen Bagh, JNU.

Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, mentioned, Horrifying images from JNU — the place I know & remember was one for fierce debates & opinions but never violence. I unequivocally condemn the events of today. This govt, regardless of what has been said the past few weeks, wants universities to be safe spaces for all students.

Following the attack, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association has demanded the removal of Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, holding him responsible for the violence. This Vice-Chancellor is a cowardly Vice-Chancellor who introduces illegal policies through the backdoor, runs away from the questions of students or teachers and then manufactures a situation to demonize JNU. For nearly seventy days now, the students of JNU have been fighting a courageous battle to save their university from the clutches of privatization and greed. The VC is adamant that by sending a message that a fee hike has happened in JNU, he can prove that accessible education is not possible. He is using henchmen to perpetrate violence on students and vandalize the university, a statement from the JNU students'