The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) has hit out at Vice-Chancellor (VC) Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit over her “freeloaders on campus” remark and accused her of failing to address “slanderous narratives” of certain films targeting the varsity.

In an open letter to the VC, the union accused her of “conveniently” ignoring the “lavish perks enjoyed by certain politically favoured groups on campus” and said she was a “freeloader”, and not the students.

“Who’s the real freeloader here? Is it the students and faculty striving for academic excellence, or perhaps it is you who is occupying the VC’s office, earning a salary from the taxpayers’ dime while failing to fulfil your responsibilities to the university community?” the open letter released Monday late night read.

Pandit had earlier said Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has a problem of “freeloaders” — both overstaying students and illegal guests — and the administration is now tightening the noose on them. The vice-chancellor had also said with the appearance of rival political outfits, the Left dispensation in the Jawaharlal Nehru University has weakened and is forced to join hands since it struggles to win elections independently. The JNUSU urged the VC to introspect and reconsider her statement on the characterisation of students as “freeloaders”. The union also accused Pandit of favouritism and allowing RSS-backed events on campus.  “This double standard is glaring, especially when students have to protest merely to access basic resources, only to get issued proctorial notices,” the letter read.