Jamia Students Defy Admin Notice: Protest and Hunger Strike to Continue
Jamia Millia Islamia students reject the university's notice on union elections, demanding a clear timeline and resignations.
The atmosphere at Jamia Millia Islamia remains tense as protesting students have officially rejected a notice issued by the university administration. Despite the administration's claims of progress, the students have declared that their 14-day-long agitation will not end until every single one of their demands is met with a concrete, written commitment.
Battle Over the Students' Union
At the heart of the unrest is the demand for the restoration of the students' union, which was dissolved by the university administration back in 2006. After days of intense campus demonstrations and a hunger strike, the university issued an order on October 26, stating that elections would be held 15 days after the approval of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union constitution.
However, the students have dismissed this announcement as insufficient. They argue that the order is riddled with vague assurances and fails to provide a definite timeline for when the constitution will actually be approved or when the electoral process will begin.
Rejecting "Vague Assurances"
Countering media reports that suggested the protest had been called off, the students clarified that such narratives were based solely on the administration's version of events. They maintained that the notice does not reflect the actual position of the protesters.
"We firmly believe that general assurances and ambiguous statements cannot be treated as fulfilment of our demands. The administration must issue a clear, written commitment with a proper timeline addressing all outstanding concerns," the protesting students stated.
Demands Beyond the Ballot
The students' grievances extend beyond the restoration of the union. They highlighted that the university's notice completely ignored critical demands, including:
- The immediate resignation of the Proctor.
- The resignation of the Security Adviser.
- A transparent and time-bound roadmap for the entire electoral process.
Hunger Strike Persists
In a show of determination, the students confirmed that those currently observing a hunger strike will continue to do so. They emphasized that a mere notice is not a resolution and that only concrete, time-bound decisions will lead to the end of the agitation.
The order, issued by Registrar Prof. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, had come after the university considered a demand letter submitted by the hunger-striking students and their delegates. While the administration views the promise of elections after two decades as a significant step, the students view the lack of a specific date as a tactic to delay justice.