JNU students to protest against rustication

New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) Students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will hold a march followed by a relay hunger strike on the campus this evening to protest against the rustication of seven students.

The decision was taken at the emergency meeting of the JNU Students' Union Council, which was ratified by an all party meeting, JNU Students' Union General Secretary Sandeep Singh said.

''The relay strike will continue till our demands are not fulfilled,'' he added.

The students are demanding immediate withdrawal of the show-cause notices and punishment and proper work environment for the workers among other demands.

The University served show-cause notices on 11 students yesterday for their alleged involvement in the February 19 incident in which Registrar Avais Ahmad was illegally confined in his car for over six hours.

While three students were rusticated for four semesters, the four others were rusticated for a year. Three office-bearers of the JNU Students' Union-- president Dhananjay Tripathi, general secretary Sandeep Singh and joint secretary Jyotsna Singh were fined Rs 2,000 each.

Denouncing the action, Mr Singh said despite the Students' Union's regret over the incident, the administration had still rusticated the seven students.

''The move exposes the anti-student and anti-democratic face of the JNU administration...,'' he added.

JNU proctor H B Bohidar had justified the punishment, saying it was handed out on the basis of their involvement in the incident which was established by a inquiry.

UNI