A serious clash took place at South Asian University (SAU) in Delhi on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, and it’s got everyone talking. The trouble started because of a disagreement over food—specifically, non-vegetarian food being served on Maha Shivratri, a day when many students were fasting. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student group, pointed fingers at the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), saying they were the ones causing chaos by forcing non-veg food on students who were sticking to their fast. Meanwhile, SFI turned it around and accused ABVP members of getting physical and attacking people. ABVP, however, strongly denied these claims and said the whole incident was an attack on the basic right to follow one’s religion freely. Videos of the messy fight have popped up all over social media, showing students arguing loudly and even getting into physical scuffles, which has only made the situation more heated.

The root of this clash goes back to a simple request. ABVP members had asked the university mess staff to serve sattvic food—pure, vegetarian meals that fit the fasting rules—since a lot of students were observing Maha Shivratri, a big Hindu festival. They wanted to make sure the religious mood on campus stayed peaceful and respectful. In their own words, they accused some “leftist goons” of trying to mess things up. Here’s what ABVP posted on X: "Shocking! On Mahashivratri, SFI goons at SAU forcibly tried to break students’ fast by forcing non-veg on them, abusing, and assaulting them!" They went on to say, "Religious freedom is a constitutional right! Why is it under attack on campus? Will the so-called secular brigade stay silent now?" It’s clear they were upset, feeling like the fasting students’ beliefs were being trampled on. To back this up, they even shared a link with a video (pic.twitter.com/qZYDFx3sMi), showing what they claim happened.

On the flip side, SFI members allegedly went ahead and tried to serve non-vegetarian food right in the mess area meant for those fasting students. This move sparked outrage from ABVP, who saw it as a deliberate attempt to ruin the harmony of the day. Things got worse when a video of a female student being roughed up inside SAU started spreading like wildfire online. SFI’s Delhi unit quickly blamed ABVP for the violence, saying they were the ones who started the fight. But ABVP hit back, claiming it was the “leftist goons” from SFI who **_"deliberately tried to spoil"_* religious harmony on campus. It’s a classic case of he-said-she-said, with both sides digging in their heels.

The Delhi Police stepped in to shed some light on the situation. They confirmed that the viral video of the girl being attacked was indeed from February 26. According to them, "There was an argument between two groups of students in the canteen over an issue related to food and then a fight broke out. The victim student informed the police by making a PCR call." They added that "the victim is being medically examined and facts are being verified" to figure out exactly what went down. For now, the police are keeping a close eye on things while the investigation continues.

This wasn’t just a random argument—it was a full-blown clash between two big student groups, SFI and ABVP, over what food should be served in the university mess. It started with ABVP trying to ensure the fasting students had their sattvic meals, but SFI’s alleged push to bring in non-veg food turned it into a battle over rights and respect. The videos circulating online show just how tense it got, with students shouting and pushing each other around.

What Exactly Happened?

The trouble at South Asian University (SAU) in Delhi on Maha Shivratri, February 26, 2025, wasn’t just a small disagreement—it was a big mess that left students shaken. A lot of students were fasting that day, honoring the holy occasion with devotion. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) stepped up for these students, saying they had politely asked the mess administration to serve sattvic food—you know, the pure vegetarian stuff that fits fasting traditions. According to ABVP, the university actually agreed to this request, which made sense since so many students were involved. They even went the extra mile and gave the administration a list of over 100 students who were fasting, just to make sure everything was clear. But then, things took a nasty turn. ABVP claims that despite all this planning, non-vegetarian food was forced into the area where the fasting students were eating. That’s when the clash broke out, and ABVP didn’t hesitate to point the finger at the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), blaming them for starting the whole fiasco. Imagine the frustration—students trying to follow their faith, only to have their efforts trampled on like that. It’s no wonder tensions boiled over.

What Did SFI Say?

Now, SFI had a totally different story to tell, and they weren’t backing down. They flat-out rejected ABVP’s push to keep non-veg food out of the mess, calling it overbearing and unfair. To them, telling everyone what they can or can’t eat was like a power grab—nothing short of dictatorial. In their own words, "The university mess is for all students, and imposing the eating habits of one group on everyone is unjust and unconstitutional." They argued that the mess should be a place where every student feels free to eat what they want, not just what one group demands. But they didn’t stop there. SFI turned the tables and accused ABVP of getting violent, claiming their members attacked students right there at SAU. They even said ABVP went after female students and the mess staff, which, if true, would make this a lot uglier than just a food fight. SFI was furious and demanded that the university administration step in and punish the people responsible. You can feel the heat in their response—they’re painting ABVP as the real villains here, not the victims.

ABVP Counters SFI's Allegations

ABVP wasn’t about to let SFI’s accusations slide. They came back swinging, doubling down on their side of the story with even more details. They said it all started because "A large number of students observed fast on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri at South Asian University (SAU). Respecting religious faith and tradition, these students had earlier requested the mess administration to arrange satvik food for them on this special day. When the matter was discussed with the mess manager, about 110 students confirmed that they wanted food meant to be consumed during fasting." They made it clear this wasn’t some last-minute idea—students had planned ahead, and the university had agreed to set up sattvic food in one of the two messes on campus. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until, according to ABVP, SFI ruined it. They added, "Accepting this demand of the students, the university administration arranged satvik food in one of the two different messes. But it is extremely unfortunate that some leftist goons deliberately tried to spoil this religious harmony. When satvik food was being served in the mess designated for fasting students, people associated with SFI tried to forcibly serve non-veg there."

To ABVP, this wasn’t just about food—it was about respect. Over 100 students had signed up for sattvic meals, wanting to honor Maha Shivratri in peace. The university had even set aside a specific mess for them, keeping things organized and fair. But then, they say, SFI barged in like troublemakers, trying to push non-veg food right where it didn’t belong. You can imagine how betrayed those fasting students must have felt, seeing their sacred day disrupted. ABVP framed it as a deliberate attack on religious harmony, calling out SFI’s actions as shameful and uncalled for.

The clash at South Asian University (SAU) on Maha Shivratri, February 26, 2025, wasn’t just a fleeting argument—it stirred up deep emotions, especially for the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). They didn’t hold back in their response, laying out exactly what they saw as a blatant attack on the fasting students. In their official statement, ABVP said, "While sattvic food was being served in the designated mess for fasting students, SFI members forcibly attempted to serve non-vegetarian food there. When the fasting students peacefully protested, these anti-social elements not only ignored their concerns but also resorted to coercion, leading to a physical altercation. This act was not just an attack on religious sentiments but also a deliberate attempt to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the university." Picture this: students quietly eating their sattvic meals, trying to honor a sacred day, when suddenly SFI members barge in with non-veg food, ignoring every plea to stop. ABVP painted it as more than just a food fight—it was a calculated move to upset the calm and respect on campus. You can feel the anger and hurt in their words, as they stood up for those who just wanted to follow their faith in peace.

Adding fuel to the fire, ABVP’s Delhi state secretary, Sarthak Sharma, didn’t mince words either. He came out swinging, saying, "When the university administration had already arranged for sattvic food in the mess, trying to forcefully introduce non-veg food there is not only insensitive but also ideological terrorism." That’s a heavy accusation, and it shows how seriously ABVP took this. To them, the university had done its part by setting up a special mess for the fasting students—over 100 of them, mind you—and SFI’s actions felt like a slap in the face. Sharma’s words suggest SFI wasn’t just being careless; they were pushing an agenda, stomping on people’s beliefs like it didn’t matter. On top of that, ABVP students took their frustration straight to the university proctor with a written complaint. They claimed SFI had gone so far as to place fish near the food meant for fasting students. When the students politely asked for it to be taken away, SFI members reportedly lost it—starting with harsh words and then turning to physical attacks. It’s hard to imagine the shock of those fasting students, seeing their sacred space violated like that.

What Did SAU and Police Say?

The university itself couldn’t stay silent with all this chaos unfolding. SAU put out a statement confirming that yes, a clash had happened between students on campus. They didn’t dive into the messy details, but they promised they’re looking into it. The administration made it clear they’re not letting this slide—an investigation is already underway, and they’ll take the right steps once they’ve got the full picture. It’s a relief to know they’re not brushing it under the rug, especially with so many students upset and videos of the scuffle spreading online. You can bet the university’s under pressure to sort this out fairly, with both ABVP and SFI pointing fingers.

Then there’s the police side of things, which adds another layer to the story. They got a PCR call—basically an emergency shout for help—around 3:45 PM that day, alerting them to the commotion at SAU. By the time the officers rolled up, though, the storm had mostly passed. The situation had calmed down, and they didn’t have to break up any fights. According to the police, the campus is peaceful now, which is good news after such a wild afternoon. They’re still digging into what happened, especially with that viral video of a female student getting roughed up—they’ve already said she’s being checked out medically while they verify the facts. It’s a tense waiting game now, as everyone watches to see what the police and SAU will do next about this ugly clash over food and faith.