NEW DELHI: The standoff between protesting students and the administration of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) intensified on Sunday, with students alleging that the university’s sudden decision to shift all classes online and shut key campus facilities was aimed at clearing the premises and weakening their agitation for the restoration of the students’ union.The move came amid an ongoing protest and hunger strike that began on October 12, with students also demanding the removal of the university’s Chief Proctor.The university administration announced on Saturday that all courses would be conducted online with immediate effect until further notice. Alongside the shift in teaching mode, central facilities, including the library and canteens, were closed, while the main entry gates were shut, leaving students on campus without access to several facilities.Students participating in the demonstration and hunger strike alleged that the decision was intended to create a pretext for dismantling the protest site near the Ghalib statue lawns.
Jamia students allege online classes used to clear campus
Expressing frustration over the sudden closures, student Mohammad Ayan Khan alleged that the administration’s failure to act against corruption and favouritism was a key reason behind the demand for a students’ union.“I saw that notice, and our friends saw it too, but they did all this on purpose. First of all, they told the students to leave, saying they wouldn’t let them inside. The students had just one demand: they were losing out on their studies. If you don’t let us inside, how will we handle our upcoming exams?” Khan said.He alleged that the decision to move classes online was being used to justify asking students to leave the campus.“So they said they were shifting everything online to give themselves a solid excuse to kick the students out, like, ‘We moved the classes online, so why are you still hanging around here?’ It’s a simple matter; they used this trick to get the students out. That’s why they’ve set up all these online classes,” he added.
Corruption, favouritism behind JMI students’ union demand, alleges protester
Explaining the reasons behind the demand for the restoration of the students’ union, Khan alleged that corruption and bullying had increased at the university and that students’ grievances were not being adequately addressed by those in positions of authority.“Look, the demand of the Student Union is happening mainly because of corruption. Corruption has really gone up at Jamia, and there’s a lot of bullying here. The people who have power don’t listen to the students; they just do things for their own benefit. First, they hand out hostel seats for their own profit. After that, the students’ concerns aren’t heard at all. The professors teach well, but some just don’t. If a complaint is filed against them, no action is taken. Why? Because they’ve paid their way in,” he said.Khan said a students’ union would give students a platform to raise concerns and seek redressal. He also alleged that Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif did not respond promptly to students’ problems.“A Student Union should be formed; our brothers are demanding it. They want that once a Student Union is in place, they can take all the students’ problems forward. Our Vice Chancellor, Mr Mazhar Asif, also often doesn’t interfere in student matters. If students face a problem, he just doesn’t listen to them or come to them quickly. That’s why people are protesting for a Student Union,” he added.
Jamia student says library, canteen and gates closed
Mohammad Yusuf Siddiqui, a first-year student, said the university had issued a notice on Saturday announcing that classes would move online and campus facilities would remain closed.“There was a notice just yesterday saying all classes have been shifted online and all the gates are closed. The canteen and library are also closed for now.”Asked whether the university had properly informed students about the developments, Siddiqui said he did not have enough information to confirm the reason behind the decision.“No, they told me when I got here that there was some Kashmir issue, so I have no idea, which is why I can’t confirm that for you right now.”The protesters have been demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) and the removal of the university’s Chief Proctor. They have accused the administration of cracking down on those participating in the agitation.
Jamia protest began on October 12
The protest and hunger strike began on October 12. During the initial days of the demonstration, Delhi Police attempted to remove protesters from the designated protest site on the university campus, leading to an escalation in the agitation.Amid efforts to resolve the standoff, a seven-member high-level committee of university professors was constituted on October 18 to mediate with students demanding elections to the JMISU. The committee has held four rounds of talks and issued an appeal urging students to call off their protest.
Over 1,500 Jamia staff attend meeting to discuss way forward
In a further development, more than 1,500 teaching and non-teaching staff members of Jamia Millia Islamia, along with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mazhar Asif and Registrar Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, attended a meeting on Saturday at the university’s Ansari Auditorium lawns to discuss the way forward.The meeting followed four rounds of talks and an appeal issued by the committee the previous night, urging students to end their agitation.According to a university release, faculty members and staff expressed dismay over incidents of vandalism and the defacement of campus walls with highly objectionable slogans. They said such acts undermined the academic atmosphere and the dignity of an institution with a distinguished 106-year legacy.The gathering unanimously adopted two resolutions.Under the first resolution, employees decided to urge protesters to vacate the protest site and call off their agitation to restore peace and normalcy on campus, particularly at the Ghalib statue lawns.The release stated that the area had been illegally occupied by protesting students despite Gate No. 18 being the designated protest site at JMI.Under the second resolution, faculty members and staff decided to repaint the defaced walls and cover slogans they described as highly condemnable and detrimental to the nation’s integrity, security and sovereignty.The JMI Students’ Union was suspended in 2006 following recurring incidents of violent clashes, attacks on teachers and occasional disruptions of classes.(With ANI inputs)
