Jamia to reopen in phases; Fasting students demand start acade

New Delhi, July 21 (UNI) Indefinitely closed Jamia Millia Islamia University will be reopened in phases even as agitating students opposed the decision, demanding immediate commencement of the academic session, in one go.

The students also urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and ensure classes resume in the university at the earliest.

A meeting of Deans of faculties, Directors of Centres and Head of Departments also decided to complete pending admission process to all courses by July 24.

However, the date for the phased reopening has not been finalised yet.

''The date will also be decided soon.... We are worried about the loss students are suffering and that was the reason that the admission process will be taken up on Monday,'' Jamia Spokesperson Rakshanda Jaleel said.

''The university administration would very shortly review and finalise the dates for commencement of classes,'' she added.

Opposing the decision, the agitating students said the university must immedaitely commence academic session so that ''students don't suffer any more''.

''The management has decided to reopen the university to undertake administrative work and not for the students.... We oppose that...

academics must be given first priority,'' Jamia Students' Union leader Satyaprakash Mishra said.

He alleged that the management was ''indulging in petty politics'' and students were made to suffer.

''What mistake have the students committed that classes are not being conducted,'' he added.

The University today asked all teaching staff to report on duty.

The Acting Dean Students' Welfare offered his services as a communicator to resolve the impasse and aksed the students to approach him.

Jamia continued to remain tense on the fourth day today.

The agitating students are demanding the Vice-Chancellor's resignation, police action against the Proctor and his son, withdrawal of sine die closure of the university and admission to rejected students.

The boys' hostel was vacated and sealed this morning.

Police and Rapid Action Force have been deployed in large numbers on the campus since July 18 when violence broke out in the university, which is closed sine die since July 19.

Angry students held demonstrations in the campus today and raised anti-Vice Chancellor and Proctor slogans.

Injured Students' Union president Shams Pervez, who was one of the six students who went on the relay hunger strike yesterday, was shifted to hospital for some time today.

Another batch of six students today replaced the students who started the hunger strike yesterday.

''We will fight till our demands are accepted.... The University management is now trying to weaken our movement by resorting to stunts of not allowing us to put up tents for the fasting students,'' Mr Mishra said.

Mr Mishra said the UPA Government X X X EDS picking up from line one para one of DI 40 ''AGITATION-LEAD-JAMIA TWO LAST NEW DELHI.'' UNI NR MSJ KN1841