New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia has warned protesting students to immediately leave the Gulistan-e-Ghalib Building and Ghalib Lawn on the North Campus.
The university called it a “final warning” and said students who do not comply may face disciplinary and legal action. It also said all classes will be held online until further notice.
Students have been protesting for 16 days. They want the students’ union restored and elections held. According to them, no union elections have taken place since 2006.
The warning came after students disagreed over an agreement announced by the university following talks with some protesters. One group had earlier ended its protest, but others continued, saying the university had not given a clear date for approving the union constitution or holding elections.
The university has cancelled suspension orders and show-cause notices issued during the protest. It has also formed a committee to look into the conduct of security personnel.
In return, students were asked to publicly apologise for alleged defamatory statements and offensive social-media posts against the university, and remove such content.
But some students refused to end the protest. They want a fixed date for the union elections and have also demanded the resignation of the Proctor and Security Adviser, as reported by NDTV.
Hunger Strike Continues
Students on hunger strike have refused to end their protest.
Ritik Kumar, a postgraduate Political Science student from Munger in Bihar, told NDTV that he had been fasting for two days. He said the students wanted the university to announce a fixed date for the union elections, adding that there had been no communication on the issue so far.
Kumar alleged that the university was trying to pressure students into calling off the protest. He said a medical team checked the hunger strikers every morning, but they were not given food or water.
He also objected to online classes, saying students had paid for regular offline classes and expected to attend them on campus.
Another student, Faizan Khan, said the protest had remained peaceful for 15 days. He said students wanted clear communication from the Vice-Chancellor and the formation of a students’ union so that elections could be held on campus.
Faizan also questioned instructions asking women students to leave the campus late at night and the decision to shift classes online.
The students’ key demands are the restoration of union elections, the resignation of the Proctor and Security Adviser, and the withdrawal of suspensions and show-cause notices issued during the protest.
FIRs Over MPs’ Visits
Three FIRs have been registered after visits and attempted visits by Opposition MPs to the campus.
In his complaint, Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi alleged that Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood entered the campus without permission on separate occasions.
Pratapgarhi visited on October 21, the tenth day of the protest. Masood and Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi tried to visit on October 23. The complaint also mentioned Nadvi, who was detained while on his way to the campus.
The protest began on October 12. Despite the university’s warning and the shift to online classes, some students say the protest will continue until they receive clear written commitments.