New Delhi, Oct. 5 -- Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) said on Monday that its office-bearers and 14 other students were continuing an indefinite hunger strike over a range of demands concerning student rights, campus infrastructure and administrative accountability.
The union said the hunger strike, which began on October 3, included JNUSU president Aditi, vice-president Gopika and general secretary Sunil. Its demands include the withdrawal of the CPO Manual, revocation of the rustication of JNUSU office-bearers, reinstatement of the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) and an independent inquiry into alleged recruitment irregularities involving the university's IQAC.
The union has also sought the reinstatement of the JNU Entrance Examination, improvement of hostel infrastructure, functional mess and Wi-Fi facilities, expansion of library seating and repairs to campus roads and other facilities.
In a statement, the JNUSU alleged that the university administration had sent its Chief Security Officer to the hunger-strikers and that the officer threatened the union with an extension of the rustication period. The union also alleged that medical check-ups of the protesting office-bearers had been denied.
Other demands include reforming the Equal Opportunity Cell in line with the principles of the Rohith Act, ensuring hostel accommodation until PhD thesis submission, implementing reservation and institutional provisions for transgender students, auditing mess bills and increasing MCM scholarships.
The union said it had sought dialogue with the Vice-Chancellor but had received no response. It has announced a "Fight Back JNU March" from Sabarmati T Point to the East Gate at 9 pm on October 9.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.