JNU Vice-Chancellor urges students to end protest amid rising health issues
New Delhi, August 21
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Santishree Pandit met the protesting students, urging them to end their hunger strike, which entered its 10th day on Wednesday. The students have been protesting against the university’s alleged unresponsiveness to their demands, including an increase in scholarship amounts and the reinstatement of a caste census.
Two students hospitalised
- JNUSU president Dhananjay has developed liver problems, while two other students, Ranvijay and Gagan, were hospitalised at AIIMS on the 10th day of the protest due to critically low potassium levels and platelets
- The students have been protesting against the university’s alleged unresponsiveness to their demands, including an increase in scholarship amounts and the reinstatement of a caste census
- The protest, which began on August 11, has seen students demanding the lifting of the ban on campus protests and the withdrawal of proctorial inquiries against those involved in previous demonstrations
The protest, which began on August 11, has seen students demanding the lifting of the ban on campus protests and the withdrawal of proctorial inquiries against those involved in previous demonstrations. In a video shared by members of the All-India Students’ Association (AISA), the V-C is seen urging the students to call off their strike.
“I am doing whatever I can for all of you. You all are like my children. I am requesting you to end this strike. It makes me feel bad. Even I come from a Backward Class, and I know the struggle that you had to face to reach here,” Pandit is heard saying in the video.
Despite the V-C’s appeals, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) remained firm in its stance. Reacting to the V-C’s visit, the JNUSU members said, “On issues of increasing merit-cum-means scholarship, non-NET fellowship, reinstating fellowship for MTech and MPH (Master of Public Health) and opening of Barak Hostel, the V-C repeated her favourite line about having no funds.”
They added, “On issues of reinstating gender sensitisation committee against sexual harassment (GSCASH), reducing viva voce weightage, reinstating deprivation points and revoking the Chief Proctor Office (CPO) manual, she said she couldn’t do anything as everything had been legally mandated. We would like to inform the V-C that the argument of a fund crunch is sham and bogus. Lakhs of crores of funds collected through cess by the Union Government have been redirected to other purposes. Furthermore, there has been a sharp decline in the allocation for higher education in this year’s budget.”
The students emphasised their demand for the V-C to take a principled stand and advocate for increased funding from the Ministry of Higher Education.
They also voiced concerns about the potential sale of JNU’s Gomti Guest House, warning against any such move.
The hunger strike, which has now exceeded 213 hours, has taken a toll on the health of several students.
JNUSU president Dhananjay has developed liver problems, while two other students, Ranvijay and Gagan, were hospitalised at AIIMS on the 10th day of the protest due to critically low potassium levels and platelets.
Despite doctors’ advice to end the strike three days ago, the students continue to fast, risking their health in pursuit of their demands.
