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JNU students continue hunger strike

Staff Reporter

Rustication of seven students for illegal confinement of Registrar

NEW DELHI: Even as the relay hunger strike called by the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University in protest against the rustication of seven students entered its third day on Monday, the teachers’ association disapproved of the reprimand and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

At its extended Executive Committee meeting on Monday, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) reiterated its moral support to the issue of payment of minimum wages to workers on the campus and discussed the situation arising out of the JNU administration’s “sudden” decision to punish 11 students, including three office-bearers of the students’ union.

“After detailed discussion, the meeting unanimously resolved to strongly disapprove of the administration’s decision. We had disapproved of the mode of protest adopted by JNU Students’ Union on February 19. At the administration’s suggestion, we used our moral authority to persuade the concerned students to tender an unconditional apology for the incident,” said the JNUTA president, Prof. Chaman Lal.

“The underlying spirit of this whole process between JNUTA, JNUSU and administration was that with these corrective measures the issue would stand resolved. In the light of this background, the administration’s decision to severely punish students is totally unwarranted and unjustified. JNUTA feels concerned that such arbitrary action will alienate the student community. The punitive action of the authorities can also destroy the overall democratic culture of dialogue and discussion in JNU,” added Prof. Chaman Lal.

Meanwhile, 10 students led by JNUSU vice-president Tyler Walker Williams sat on the relay hunger strike on the campus.

“Our struggle is to defend campus democracy and uphold the workers’ rights on the campus. It is a question of whether students will have the freedom to speak out for workers. It is a question of whether the JNU administration cares about stopping the blatantly illegal act of robbing workers of their minimum wages,” JNUSU general secretary Sandeep Singh said on Monday.

JNU had rusticated seven students and imposed a fine of Rs. 2,000 each on three office-bearers holding them responsible for illegal confinement of Registrar Avais Ahmad in his staff car for nearly six hours earlier this year.

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