Students from different universities came together in support of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to protest against the fee hike. Read on to find out more.
On Thursday, 21st November 2019 students from Delhi University (DU), JNU, and Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI) participated in a protest led by Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) against the hostel fee hike in JNU.
The protest consisted of a march commencing from Mandi House which continued till the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). The demands of the protestors included a complete rollback of the increased hostel fee hike amount, resumption of classes. Apart from this, they also demanded an end to the prevaricating attitude of MHRD with powerful slogans.
Sidharth Yadav, Secretary, ABVP Delhi, said, “We demand a complete rollback of the hiked hostel fee. Today’s protest has only served to fortify our fight for reversion to the earlier fee-structure. In principle, ABVP is against the ongoing series of fee hikes across several educational institutions and would request their respective administrations to refrain from such inexcusable conduct. We chose to organise a separate protest vis-a-vis JNU Students’ Union because of the latter’s unseemly actions wherein they desecrated the University space and damaged public property, in addition to undercutting the momentum and sullying the spirit of the ongoing movement. While they employ profitable victimhood to further their self-serving ends, we choose the openhanded and inclusive approach in our fight for justice.”
According to sources, around 160 people were arrested during the protest taking place at the Parliament street which included 3 handicapped student protestors. Students came in support of JNU in a huge number and didn’t care about the consequences. The protestors chanted slogans like “HRD Minister istifa do (HRD Minister, resign), Fee hike nahi sahenge” (we won’t tolerate fee hike) against the JNU administration and HRD ministry, who according to students is responsible behind this fee hike.
Durgesh Kumar, President, ABVP, JNU, said, “Left-oriented organisations, in an infelicitous act of misrepresentation, misappropriation and crass political expediency, have blunderingly acquiesced to the intervention of HRD Ministry’s High Powered Committee into the ongoing issue. We reject such interposition and push for the uncritical acceptance of all our demands.”
Apart from students, members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and ABVP were also detained after a quarrel between the protestors and the security personnel. The area had protection through triple layers of barricades and Delhi Police was on high alert. Students still managed to climb through the barricades out of rage and ignite a conflict with the security personnel which also involved Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
Manish Jangid, Secretary, ABVP, JNU, said, “While JNUSU has thrown in the towel, we continue to hold out. The manner in which the police authorities stymied our protest was undemocratic. We call for the HRD Minister to either unconditionally comply with our demands or resign forthwith.”
Akshit Dahiya, President, DUSU, said, “DUSU stands in opposition to this undue increase in JNU hostel fee. We stand in unison with all sincere protestors and request the government to put in place a discrete regulatory body to independently judge the necessity as well as delineate the quantum of any fee hikes in future. Our successes against similar fee-hikes in Delhi University is a testament to our commitment and our capability to take this fight to its logical end.”
Feature Image Credits: Ashutosh Singh for ABVP
Avni Dhawan
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