Jamia sMillia students start fast unto death

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Jul 24: As Jamia Millia Islamia University reopened for the completion of the admission process today, students began a fast-unto-death, demanding immediate commencement of the entire academic session.

The University, which was closed sine die on July 19 after violence on the campus the previous night, notified the revised schedule for the students whose admission were pending.

However, it is yet to decide the dates for the phased resumption of classes.

Two agitation students, Union leader Satyaprakash Mishra and Ashraf Kamal-- started fast unto death. Since July 20, students were on a relay hunger strike.

''We will fight the injustice meted out to us. The sine die closure of the University was a shameful move. They have denied admission to some students just because they were involved in the University Union elections,'' Mr Mishra said.

He said the hunger strike will continue till their demands are met.

Agitating students are demanding immediate commencement of classes in one go, Vice-Chancellor Mushirul Hassan's resignation, police action against Proctor Rocket Ibrahim and his son Ejas and admission for rejected students.

The University asserted that admission of rusticated students was non-negotiable.

''All those who indulge in acts of violence and destruction of property shall be dealt with severely....The admission of rusticated students is non-negotiable,'' University spokesperson Rakshanda Jaleel said.

''However, if there are any genuine admission lapses in the admission process, those shall certainly be held up for scrutiny,'' she said.

The University has also asked all the teaching staff to report on duty. The Acting Dean Students' Welfare offered his services as a communicator to resolve the impasse and asked the students to approach him.

Yesterday, the Vice-Chancellor, during a meeting of the Deans of Faculties, Head of Departments and other senior members of the administration, reviewed the situation in the university.

They unanimously decided that only democratic means of expression will be tolerated.

Meanwhile, former prime minister V P Singh visited the agitating students at campus yesterday.

The students had called Union Minister Oscar Fernandes and put forth their demands.

Mr Fernandes assured them that he would take up the issue with Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh.

Violence erupted on the campus on July 18 after Jamia Students' Union President Shams Pervez and some other students alleged that University staff, including the Proctor, his son and some unidentified people attacked them when they tried to meet the Vice-Chancellor regarding denial of admission to them.

They also alleged that they were beaten up in the Vice Chancellor's presence.

Mr Pervez and two other students were admitted to hospital with serious injuries. Following the incident, students reportedly went on rampage and damaged Jamia property and some vehicles the same day.

Prof Hassan, while denying the allegations closed the univeristy indefinitely the next day as a precautionary measure and asked students to vacate the hostels.

On July 20, Prof Hassan ordered an inquiry by Justice (Retd) S K Aggarwal into the violence but the students rejected it.

The students alleged that ''the perpetrators of violence cannot order a probe and an independent body should look into the matter''.

UNI

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Jamia Millia Islamia University opens on July 24

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