Jamia shifts classes online amid ongoing strike over student polls

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) on Saturday shifted all classes online and said the campus gates, libraries and canteens would remain closed until further notice to ensure “student safety” amid an ongoing protest demanding the restoration of student union elections. The decision followed a failed attempt by the administration to “persuade” the protesters to call off their agitation, the university said in a statement.

The protesting students and the All India Students’ Association (AISA) alleged that the university staff tried to forcibly remove them from the protest site on Saturday afternoon while police deployment outside the campus increased.

The university said the decision to move classes online with immediate effect was a precautionary measure taken in view of the prevailing situation and to ensure the safety and security of students. In a notice issued on Saturday, the office of the Dean of Students’ Welfare directed students to follow their online class schedules and avoid visiting the campus until further notice.

Several students have been on a hunger strike since October 12, demanding the restoration of student union elections, which were last held in 2006 before the union was dissolved following campus violence. JMI had constituted a high-level committee on October 18 to engage with the protesting students and look into their demands.

Mantasha, an AISA member, alleged that university staff attempted to forcibly remove the protesters while faculty members watched without intervening. “None of the professors intervened when students were being dragged. Girls were being dragged by their clothes and treated badly by the Jamia administration and its staff. They were all present there and watching. We will remember this day. The Jamia administration, staff and professors should all be ashamed,” the AISA member said.

Nausheen Farooq, a student associated with the Fraternity Movement, a youth organisation, alleged that the administration’s crackdown began around 12.30 p.m., with non-teaching staff, guards and other university personnel attempting to dismantle the protest site and remove the tents.

‘Students manhandled’

“Students were being manhandled by the staff. They were attempting to clear our protest site and remove the tents. All gates were closed and students were not being allowed to enter,” Ms. Farooq said.

The students also alleged that police deployment outside the university gates has increased and several who gathered outside the campus were detained. They said they resisted the attempts to clear the protest site and would continue their agitation until their demands are met.

“We will not leave until all our demands are met and the student union is restored,” Ms. Farooq said.

In its statement, the university expressed dismay over incidents of “vandalism and the defacement” of campus walls with what it described as “highly objectionable slogans”.

The university said a gathering of faculty members and staff unanimously adopted two resolutions in a meeting held earlier in the day, including an appeal to the protesting students to vacate the Ghalib statue lawns and call off their agitation. It mentioned that Gate No. 18 was the designated site for protests and alleged that the students had occupied the Ghalib statue lawns illegally.

‘Negotiation attempts’

The university also pointed to its October 21 notification stating that disciplinary action taken or initiated against students in connection with protests over issues arising from October 12 up to 5.30 p.m. on October 21 would be reviewed. However, the administration said the move had “failed to bring the protesters to the negotiating table”.