Carrying Posters with slogans like ‘Without Dissent there is no Jamia’ and ‘Restore Campus Democracy’, students gathered to oppose the University’s suppression of student activism
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Students of Jamia Millia Islamia are holding indefinite sit-in at the campus demanding the suspension of the disciplinary actions taken by the administration against the student leaders for holding protests.
Students said the sit-in began on Monday and will continue unless the administration withdraws the disciplinary actions against the students including Saurabh, Jyoti and Al Fouz. These student leaders were served show-cause notices because they had marked “Jamia Resistance Day” on 15 December last year. On the day in 2020, the Delhi police had launched brutal crackdown on students who were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
“On Monday, the chief proctor backed by security forces tried to remove the students, who were part of the protest. Although they couldn’t dislodge the main protesters, they managed to disperse the crowd,” said Munazzam Khan, a student, while speaking to Clarion India.
On Tuesday, a few students were manhandled and thrashed by the security guards when they were trying to enter the campus. A video of the incident also went viral on social media. The incident is also said to be linked with the student sit-in.
According to Khan, the manhandling of students has sparked anger among students. Following outrage, a security guard who was involved in the manhandling incident. However, the students were satisfied with the administrative action against a guard as the students are demanding action against all those who were involved in the students.
The disciplinary committee is going to meet on February 25 to review the role of the students in organising “Jamia Resistance Day” on December 15, 2024. The protesting students are holding banners with slogans like “Dissent is the legacy of Jamia”, “Without Dissent there is no Jamia” and “Restore Campus Democracy. The protest is being led by student groups including the All India Students Association (AISA) and the All India Revolutionary Students Organisation.
Student Islamic Organisation (SIO) have showed a solidarity with the protesting students and demanded the immediate withdrawal of show-cause notices.
“SIO condemns the actions against students peacefully commemorating the 2019 butal police assault on JMI, including Saurabh and other activists. We demand immediate withdrawal of show-cause notices, Dissolution of the disciplinary committee, Respect for students’ right to peaceful assembly. We will not be silenced. The struggle for justice continues,” said SIO on social media.
Khan, who is also associated with the SIO, said a circular was also recently circulated online saying that no protest is allowed in the campus.
“The administration is crushing democracy wholly. Democratic voice is being supressed. They want that no one raise voice against the administration. It is heading toward the dictatorship,” he said.
Student Federation of India (SFI), who is also part of the protest, called the administration action “communal” and “anti-democratic”.
“Since 2022, student activists affiliated with various organizations and engaged in discussions, exhibitions, and demonstrations on national and international issues have faced administrative repression. This includes threats of withholding exam results and admit cards, suspension, and the issuance of repeated show-cause notices,” said SFI in a statement.
According to the student group, following the call for protest, the university administration took drastic measures, evacuating the campus and shutting down all canteens and reading rooms. The central canteen at Gate No. 7 was locked, lights were switched off, and access to washrooms was restricted.
“Students were even denied entry into the campus to retrieve their belongings, such as bags and laptops, from the Ibne Sina library. Security personnel harassed students attempting to enter through Gate No. 7 to collect their belongings. Ultimately, the campus was placed under a complete lockdown. The protest is still going on and the university admin has not stepped in to speak to the protesting students till now,” said SFI on Tuesday.
