Watch: JNU Students on Hunger Strike Against Admission Policies

The tussle between Jawaharlal Nehru University students and the administration shows no signs of ebbing.

JNU students sitting on an indefinite hunger strike. 

(Photo: The Quint/Garvita Khybri)

Video Editor : Abhishek Sharma

The tussle between Jawaharlal Nehru University students and the administration over a series of admission policies for the next academic session shows no signs of ebbing. On 18 March, 11 students from JNU started an indefinite hunger strike to demand the following:

1) To save the idea of university and education.

2) Roll back ‘anti-student and anti-university’ 2019-20 prospectus.

3) Changes in 2019-20 admission policy, which is “another step towards destroying JNU”.

4) No dual studentship! ‘One university one fee structure’

5) Fee for MBA should not be Rs 12 lakh, engineering can't be Rs 70,000. The fee must be Rs 283 only.

5) Reject online entrance examinations.

“We have been sitting on a hunger strike for the last 9 days because of the change in the admission policy which will deter many students from villages and from the lowest strata of our society from taking admission. They have also started an online entrance test. But, my question is, do all schools in India have computers? Is everyone able to handle a computer? If not then how will they be able to write entrances for JNU?” 

Sarika Chaudhary, Member, JNU Students Union 

The JNUSU said that the administration, over the past week, had not responded to the demands of the students or discussed the issues regarding the changes brought about in the admission policy. It said that JNU was instead calling up the parents of the protesting students and talking to them.

Geeta Kumari, former JNUSU president, who had been sitting on a hunger strike since 18 March, fell sick on Monday and was rushed to the hospital.

According to The Hindu, Geeta Kumari’s family received a message informing them that she has been admitted to hospital after taking part in a protest and telling them to take care of her.

She alleged that the administration was trying to involve the family of those sitting on a hunger strike to put pressure on them to call off their agitation. The message sent to her parents read: “Dear Sir, it has been informed to us that Geeta Kumari, resident of Ganga hostel, is being admitted at Safdarjung Hospital after protest. Please take care FYI. Warden Ganga Hostel.”

Speaking to ANI, JNU Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar said:

“A discussion cannot happen when 500 people are standing and shouting at you. It happens in a peaceful atmosphere. Right from the beginning, they are against opening the management school in the campus. If the fee is so high then why are students applying for course from all over the country? We have just 50 seats but a large number of people who have qualified CAT exam have applied for our program.”

The Quint independently reached out to the VC’s office but we were told that he has nothing to say about the matter.

The students however are continuing their strike against the university’s decision to alter the admission policies for the next academic year.

“The administration has been insensitive towards us and has not called us for talks even once.”

Protesting student.