In Protest, Kashmir Students give free Kehwa at JNU
Kashmir students who were denied the permission to participate in an international food festival of an Indian varsity put up a stall outside the venue in protest and provided kehwa (herbal tea) free to the visitors. 
Kashmir students who had been earlier given a go-ahead to participate in the International Food Festival at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi were denied permission at the last moment after organizers of the event were ‘threatened and harassed’ by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing, the ABVP.
The event that was scheduled on Jan 26 sees participation of foreign students. But ‘state-less’ nations like Tibet also take part in the festival. “It was just to send out the message that hooliganism cannot be allowed to take over the democratic space of the University campus. Also, no amount of threatening can subdue the fact that Kashmir is a disputed territory. If the organisers could be allowed to install a counter of Palestine, why not Kashmir,” a JNU student, who was part of the protest, said requesting anonymity.
A group of Kashmir students at the varsity said: The free kehwa event was held from 7.30 pm to 9 pm on Monday. Speaking about the controversy, a member of the organising committee of the Kashmir Food Counter said: “On January 20, a group of students from Kashmir booked a counter at the IFF. After completing necessary formalities and depositing security amount the festival organisers allotted space for Kashmir food counter along with the Tibet food counter. However, the ISA started receiving threats from ABVP.”
“The event took place amidst Azadi slogans and reclaiming JNU as space for free expression and dissent. ABVP supporters also arrived with Indian flag; hailing Indian army, Indian state, Narendra Modi and BJP,” they said.
The Kashmir students had prepared Kehwa and provided the drink free to those who attended the festival. “The organisers received open warnings from ABVP threatening them with disrupting the festival in case Kashmiris were allowed to open their food counter. International students who organise it were threatened with legal action and deportation. Just two days before the festival, the booking for Kashmir food counter were cancelled.”
“Students from Jammu and Kashmir as a mark of protest and an attempt to reclaim the space in JNU put a Kashmir stall just outside the venue. Students in very innovative ways made their presence felt and their voices and concerns heard,” one of the Kashmir students said.
Amidst slogans for Azadi, students gave Kehwa for free and staged a protest in which all the Kashmir students participated. The protest was attended by other JNU students and supported by DSU, BAPSA and other students.
