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9 Day Hunger Strike by DU Students Finally Ends as University Accepts Key NSUI Demands

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NSUI calls off hunger strike led by Delhi University students following an agreement with the university for student representation, the extension of PG seats, and a response regarding the specific X post warning against student demonstrations. 

Five students from the University of Delhi affiliated with the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) finally called off their hunger strike on Thursday following a written assurance from the university administration regarding several of their demands. The protest was led by DUSU Vice President Rahul Jhansla. The 11-day-long “DU Satyagraha” protest and nine-day hunger strike have been called off after receiving a letter signed by the university’s Proctor and handed to them by the DU South Campus director Rajni Abbi and a confirmed response to the social media post made from the official university account during the recent Jantar Mantar protest, urging students to refrain from joining the movement.

“The Delhi University administration has fulfilled all our demands in writing and has also given a verbal assurance, on camera and in the presence of the students, to provide a prompt response regarding the specific ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) post in question”,  Rahul Jhansla added. 

The five NSUI members who observed the hunger strike were Siddhant Tiwari, Kuldeep Gujjar, Sagar Choudhary, Deepak Choudhary and Parth Rao. They ended their indefinite hunger strike in the presence of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Devender Yadav, NSUI national president Vinod Jakhar and South Campus director Prof Rajni Abbi. 

“Since his historic victory in the DUSU elections a year ago, Rahul Jhansla has consistently raised his voice against the university administration’s policies. By leading this ‘Satyagraha’, he has compelled the administration to accept the students’ demands,”

said Devender Yadav in praise of the DUSU vice-president, Rahul Yadav Jhansla, for leading the agitation. 

The letter dated 4th August states that the process for student representation in the Academic Council will be completed within three months of the conclusion of the 2026 Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections. Further, the university also assured the increase in the number of seats in one-year postgraduate programmes in accordance with the students’ demands. 

“The seat allocation, earlier 1,100 for PG courses, has been increased to more than double. One-year PG courses in five programmes have also been started in the School of Open Learning (SOL) from the academic session 2026-27,” quotes the letter. Additionally, the students have been assured of a discussion regarding the remaining demands with the university administration in due course. 

Addressing the gathering, Vinod Jakhar said:

“This is a victory of the courage, determination and unity of Delhi University students. Our five colleagues remained on hunger strike for nine days and forced the administration to listen to the students’ voices. This victory belongs to every student who stood firm for their rights.” 

“It is unfortunate that students had to put their health at risk and sit on a hunger strike for nine days before the university administration acted on their concerns. Students should never have to go to such lengths for their legitimate demands. We have asked our colleagues to end their hunger strike following the written assurance, but our struggle will not end with an assurance letter. The university will have to fulfil and implement every commitment it has made to the students,” he added further. 

DUSU Vice President Rahul Jhansla has said that the administration had accepted the students’ demands in writing and had also given an on-camera verbal assurance regarding another issue raised by the protesters. He said the agitation had demonstrated the strength of collective student action and vowed to continue raising issues concerning students and “institutional freedom and liberty of choice”. In a statement, NSUI mentioned that they will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the assurances of the university and will stand with the students until all the accepted demands are fulfilled. 

 

Read Also: Jharkhand Student Protest Over Exam Irregularities Enters Third Week

Image Source: The Tribune

 

Chandrani Mondal

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Jharkhand Student Protest Over Exam Irregularities Enters Third Week

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Students enter the third-week of protest at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium over alleged JPSC and JSSC exam irregularities, demanding a CBI probe, exam cancellation, and judicial inquiry. CM Hemant Soren has promised action as BJP demands his resignation.

 

Hundreds of students continued their sit-in at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi on Thursday, as their agitation against alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment examinations entered its third week. The protest, which began on July 25, has grown steadily even as the state government has so far avoided the kind of confrontation that marked the recent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation in the national capital.

The demonstration stems from allegations of paper leaks and manipulation in the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination and the JSSC-Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam, also known as the Jharkhand General Graduate-level Combined Competitive Examination (JGGLCCE). Protesters allege that TSR Data Processing Private Ltd, the agency that conducted several of these examinations, was complicit in the irregularities. Demonstrators say repeated controversies around recruitment exams have eroded public confidence and point to the need for structural reform in both commissions.

Their demands include a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, cancellation of the 14th JPSC Preliminary exam, a review of examinations conducted by the implicated agency, the introduction of a “not attempted” option as a fifth choice on OMR answer sheets, and strict action against those found responsible. According to Akashvani News, protesters have clarified that their demand is not the resignation of any individual leader but the cancellation of the tainted exams and an independent judicial inquiry conducted by retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.

The stir intensified through the first week of August. JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto launched an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the aspirants, a move that, according to the Organiser, marked a new phase in the agitation even as the CID inquiry remained underway. Protesters have said the movement is being run without political funding, with food and refreshments arriving voluntarily from local temples and community organisations.

With the Assembly’s Monsoon Session beginning Thursday, agitating students have announced plans to lay siege to the Assembly to press their demands. The All India Students’ Association (AISA) has announced its own march to the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly for Friday, August 7.

The Jharkhand Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has questioned former JPSC chairman L. Khiangte and arrested 19 people in connection with the case. Protesters have publicly termed the CID probe “inadequate,” pressing instead for a CBI investigation.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has assured students that “all measures” will be taken and that their concerns are being treated seriously. He has said paper leaks are not a problem unique to Jharkhand but a national concern. A four-member government team has been constituted for talks, and students have agreed in principle to engage. A government representative has also asked students to send a delegation to the Chief Minister’s residence.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has extended solidarity to the Ranchi protesters, with CJP leaders reportedly speaking to the aspirants by phone. Educationist Sonam Wangchuk also backed the students and spoke with Mahto, who ended his four-day fast following the call. Jharkhand Congress, the ruling JMM’s alliance partner, has extended moral support, while NSUI president Vinod Jakhar visited the site to assure students their demands would be raised forcefully. Congress leader Bandhu Tirkey has sent refreshments, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged the state government to act.

The BJP has said it will raise the issue during the Monsoon Session. Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi has met the students and called their demands “genuine,” while the party has separately demanded a CBI inquiry monitored by the High Court. The BJP has alleged the scandal points to deliberate “paper fixing” and job-selling rather than a mere leak, claiming lower-scoring candidates cleared the exam while toppers failed, and has accused the examining agency of orchestrating the scam with the state government’s backing. It has also called on the Congress to withdraw support from the Soren government and has sought Soren’s resignation on moral grounds.

The Ranchi agitation stands in contrast to the CJP-led “Chalo Sansad” protests that shook Delhi’s Jantar Mantar area through late July. That movement brought together students and job aspirants from across the country over the same underlying grievance of paper leaks and recruitment fraud. On July 20, protesters attempting to march towards Parliament were met with police baton charges and tear gas, in scenes that some international media outlets described as among the largest anti-government demonstrations India has seen in years. Reports put combined police and protester injuries in the hundreds, with the protest site’s tents and stage torn down and later rebuilt by demonstrators. Clashes recurred through the week even after CJP representatives held talks with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, and tensions eased only after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation on July 25—the same day the Ranchi sit-in began.

Meanwhile, no coercive police action has been reported against the Ranchi protesters. The state government and police have allowed the sit-in to continue unimpeded, and evening candlelight and Tiranga marches have drawn local residents and job aspirants in solidarity. This marks a departure from Jharkhand’s own recent record with such protests, including a December 2024 agitation in which police baton-charged JSSC candidates and detained student leader Devendra Nath Mahto..

The two movements also differ in political framing. While the CJP’s Delhi campaign centred on demands for a Union minister’s resignation and the release of a hunger-striking activist, the Ranchi protesters have steered clear of demanding any individual’s resignation, keeping their demands focused on exam cancellation, a CBI probe and institutional reform. Opposition parties in Jharkhand, however, have separately called for the Chief Minister’s resignation.

 

 

Image Source: The Hindu

Read Also: V-Dem Report Flags Century-Low Academic Freedom 

 

Sheetal Mishra

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DU Students Among Many Injured as Police Crackdown Haunts Jantar Mantar Protesters

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Two Delhi University students remain hospitalised after the July 20 Jantar Mantar protest, as eyewitness accounts and medical findings draw attention to the injuries sustained.

Days after Delhi Police baton-charged thousands of demonstrators marching towards Parliament as part of the Cockroach Janta Party’s “Chalo Sansad” march, at least two Delhi University students remain hospitalised with serious injuries, raising questions about the extent of force used to disperse the July 20 protest. While Delhi Police have consistently denied using pellet guns, multiple eyewitnesses and medical reports have disputed that claim.

Sahil Lochab, a Delhi University School of Open Learning student preparing for the SSC Combined Graduate Level examination, may lose vision in his right eye after what his family alleges was a pellet gun injury sustained during the march. Lochab underwent surgeries at Lady Hardinge Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital before being shifted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where doctors reportedly removed a pellet lodged in his eye that had caused a corneal perforation, along with others from his lung and the tissue surrounding his heart. His family was initially told there was only a one per cent chance of his sight returning. Doctors have since said his prognosis remains “guarded”, meaning the likelihood of vision recovery remains uncertain.

Twenty-one-year-old Sakshi, also a Delhi University student, was caught in a crowd crush near Jantar Mantar after police allegedly pushed demonstrators into an already congested area following the use of tear gas, according to protesters. She was carried unconscious to a police vehicle after demonstrators alleged officers at the scene were reluctant to transport her to hospital. Admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and placed on ventilator support, she was extubated on July 23 after hospital authorities said her condition had shown “steady improvement”. They added that she was conscious, breathing independently, and that MRI scans of her brain and spine were normal.

Protesters on July 20 have described police charging at people who were simply filling water from a cooler, triggering a stampede. One eyewitness who was present when Sakshi was found unconscious, said her face had turned blue and that she was bleeding near one ear. Bystanders, guided by others in the crowd, attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and, when that appeared unsuccessful, administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The witness also alleged that protesters restrained a police officer whom they believed was responsible for her injuries, and described difficulties in locating an ambulance before she was eventually taken to hospital in a police vehicle.

Delhi Police have said around 60 protesters and 118 police personnel were injured in the clashes. They also reported that more than 20 police vehicles were damaged and that 70 protesters were detained. Officers, including Head Constable Balram, Inspector Nand Kishore Singh, ACP Vivek Bhagat, and Head Constable Babu Lal, alleged they were separated from their units and assaulted by crowds.

Delhi Police have repeatedly and categorically denied using pellet guns during the protest, stating the force neither possesses nor uses them and warning against circulating “false and misleading” information. However, medico-legal case (MLC) reports for at least three injured protesters, including Lochab, 25-year-old Sheikh Irshad Mansoori, and a 28-year-old Outlook journalist, reportedly describe “suspected gunshot injury” or “pellet injury marks”, and hospital sources have said the pellets recovered were metallic rather than plastic or rubber. Pellet guns and shock batons form part of the Rapid Action Force’s (RAF) riot-control equipment. However, no official evidence has conclusively established whether pellet guns were fired during the protest.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, speaking to reporters in Parliament,  accused the government of suppressing students’ voices and said the police action against them was “completely wrong,” renewing the Opposition’s demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise and for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign.

Sheetal Mishra

[email protected]

Also Read: DU Sets Up Anti-Ragging Control Rooms

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ABVP Stages Protest Against Shortage of Seats for DU’s One-Year PG Programmes

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ABVP staged a protest at Delhi University against the shortage of seats in one-year PG programmes, with the demonstration led by Aryan Mann.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest at Delhi University, drawing attention to the minuscule number of seats available for students seeking a postgraduate diploma after completing their fourth year. Their chief demand was that the total number of seats should be increased, as the current setup has “betrayed” the aspirations of the students.

DUSU President Aryan Maan, in a statement to IANS, said,

The university administration had announced that all students completing the fourth year, whether from honours or programme courses, would get an opportunity to take admission to the one-year course on the basis of merit. However, there are only limited seats for students who have completed the fourth year.”

Further highlighting the disparity between students opting for the conventional two-year route and those coming in straight after their fourth year, the ABVP chief stated,

Those who are willing to do masters for 2 years, they have more 4,000-5,000 seats; however, those who have completed their fourth year are only offered 1,000 seats.”

Another ABVP protestor, explaining the specific course at the centre of the protest and the demand being pursued to increase the total number of seats, said:

“The one course that has been increased in DU, thousands of students come from third and fourth year to enroll in that said course. However, the seats for MA are very low, so ABVP demands that the number of seats for the MA course be officially increased.”

The protest comes amid growing scrutiny of the one-year PG programme’s rollout, with the university’s official seat matrix listing roughly 1,068 seats spread across 45 programmes, a fraction of the number of students who stayed on for the additional fourth year. Notably, the intake for the one-year route is calculated as a percentage of each department’s pre-existing sanctioned strength rather than the actual number of fourth-year completers, a formula finalised only months after most students had already committed to the extra year.

Image credits: ABPlive Ground Report

 Kaustubh Dwivedi

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Read Also: DU’s One-Year PG Promise Hits a Seat Ceiling

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CJP Protest Jantar Mantar Enters Fifth Day with Educators’ Addresses

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CJP protest’s fifth day at Jantar Mantar swapped slogans for lectures. Educators addressed demonstrators, while the demand for a National Student Commission was reiterated. 

The CJP protest at Jantar Mantar entered its fifth day on Wednesday, with educators Prof. Dr Vijender Chauhan, Delhi University; Vikramjeet Singh and Abhinay Sharma addressing demonstrators. Organisers reiterated their demand for the establishment of a National Student Commission, stating that the protest would continue until the government responds.

Dr Chauhan emphasised the need for diversity within the movement and the bureaucracy.  Speaking to DU Beat, Dr Chauhan said,

Real change won’t come from a crowd that all look the same. Without that diversity, the fight simply can’t be won.  “

Singh’s remarks focused on education funding and the credibility of national exams. He said the NEP 2020 and global benchmarks recommend public education spending of around 6% of GDP, against actual spending of 2.5%-4%. He linked the funding gap to poor school infrastructure, teacher shortages, faculty vacancies and a weak research ecosystem, which he said disproportionately affects rural and marginalised students. 

Sharma’s remarks ranged more broadly, touching on other national issues, including media coverage, the Andaman Islands and renewed calls for the Union Education Minister’s resignation. 

The protest, which began earlier this month, continues to demand the establishment of a National Student Commission of India. CJP says it won’t leave until the government agrees. At this time, the government has not publicly responded to the pressure group’s demand.

The CJP protest at Jantar Mantar continued into its fifth day with cultural performances alongside the day’s lectures, with performances by artists, musicians and poets at the site. During the rainfall on Wednesday evening, protesters were seen dancing together at Jantar Mantar. 

While talking to DU Beat, one protestor called it a “controlled blast”, alleging it has allowed people to express their anger without tangible outcomes. Although the CJP promised 50% women’s participation, the organisation has yet to announce an official woman spokesperson nineteen days after its first protest.


Image Credits: Mayank for DU Beat

Read Also: AADTA-led Teachers across DU Stage Protest for Regularisation of Ad Hoc Faculty

 

Mayank Kushwaha

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NEET 2026 : AISA calls for Education Minister’s resignation amidst silence, protest at Jantar Mantar

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Students and activists protest at Jantar Mantar with banners and flags against the NEET 2026 paper leak and re-exam announcement.

All India Students’ Organisation (AISA) members held a protest at Jantar Mantar on Thursday against the NTA following the cancellation of NEET 2026. The National Testing Agency(NTA) has announced a re-examination in light of the paper leak. 

Students of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) came together in protest against the National Testing Agency (NTA) at Jantar Mantar, Delhi today. This comes two days after the NTA officially cancelled NEET 2026 due to the paper leak, announcing a re-examination in the coming days. 

Over 50 students gathered at the monument this Thursday, with many Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers present on site. Speaking on the paper leak, AISA-DU Secretary Anjali said that the “series of paper leaks over the years” were “manufactured and systemic”. 

“NTA is an incompetent body. It outsources all its functions making it bound to corruption.” In conversation with DU Beat, she reasserted AISA’s demands for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign and for the NTA to be scrapped.

Students across the country have slammed the NTA’s decision on May 12 to cancel the exam following the paper leak.

 “The current system starts and concludes with profit, resulting in the systematic collapse of this education system—be it slashing public funding of educational institutions, or the coaching-NTA nexus. We demand the decentralisation of exams to respective states and educational institutions.” 

shared AISA member Abhishek Kumar with DU Beat.

The agency has urged students to wait for a revised schedule for re-examination, along with hall tickets, which will be released on official platforms. The NEET exam, an entrance examination for medical aspirants, was written by over 22 lakh students this year on May 3. 

Other student organisations have also taken to the streets. Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest outside the NTA office in Delhi on Wednesday. They demanded action against the alleged irregularities within the system, with some students attempting to breach the security gates. 

The student outfit of the Congress, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) similarly organised a protest outside Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s residence. The protestors demanded his immediate resignation and carried placards deeming him ‘paper chor’.

 AISA’s Ranchi outfit also held a protest against the agency on Wednesday, with placards asserting that ‘Re-examination is not the solution’. NSUI president Vijay Jakhar asserted that the NTA had “shattered the dreams of millions” in conversation with The Hindu. 

The government-ordered CBI enquiry into the matter has led to the arrest of seven accused of involvement in the leak so far. Following the registration of the case with the CBI on May 12th, several locations have been searched as part of investigations. 

Initial investigations revealed an elaborate conspiracy, involving scanning and distribution beginning in Nashik and spreading across the country. The medical entrance test’s question papers were leaked using sophisticated technology, including portable scanners, a complex Telegram network and a shadow server. A PDF containing large parts of the paper was circulated as reported by NDTV.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has not responded to questions about the leak thus far. His silence has been met with frustration from students online and on ground. The NTA’s responses have also been discredited by student activists as ‘vague’ and unclear. Student agitation has only increased with many aspirants and their families expressing deep dissatisfaction with the cancellation of the exam. 

A similar situation had taken place in 2024, where the NTA faced allegations of paper leaks owing to the unusual 720/720 score attained by multiple students. CBI inquiries then led to the arrest of 36 persons. However, the exam was not cancelled due to lack of evidence of a “systemic breach”, as stated by the Supreme Court. A repetition of paper leaks two years apart has been felt as lack of any improvement by many aspirants.

Image Source: Anjali (DU Secretary AISA)

Read More: NEET Cancelled: The Fate of Students amidst Institutional Chaos

 

Anjali Paruvu

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NSUI Holds Follow-up Protest at VC Lawns over Infrastructure Safety Concerns

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NSUI students holding banners, protesting outside VC lawn

DU students held a follow-up infrastructure-safety protest at the VC lawns on 11th May, which was reportedly stopped by the Delhi Police during a VIP lockdown.

Students of the University of Delhi staged a protest on the Vice Chancellor’s lawns on 11th May over concerns about campus infrastructure and student safety. According to photos and videos shared with the editorial team, around 15 students participated in the demonstration led by NSUI member Gopal Choudhary.

Protesters were seen sitting outside the VC lawns wearing construction helmets and holding placards carrying slogans such as “DU matlab, DANGER UNIVERSITY!” (“DU means Danger University”) and “VC Sir, Responsibility bhi aapki hai, sirf circular nahi” (“VC Sir, responsibility is also yours, not just issuing circulars.”) Other placards read “padhne aaye they, jaan jokhim mein daalne nahi” (“We came here to study, not to risk our lives”).

Unlike the earlier protest held at the Faculty of Arts, the 11th May demonstration took place directly outside the Vice Chancellor’s premises and involved a smaller group of protesters attempting to raise their concerns before the university administration. Videos from the site showed police personnel speaking to the protesters and questioning whether permission had been taken for the demonstration and whether the police had been informed beforehand.

According to students present at the protest, they were unaware that a VIP movement was expected at the VC lawns and believed that holding demonstrations within the campus premises was permitted, citing previous instances of student protests within the university. 

In a video posted online following the protest, Gopal Choudhary stated that students had already given the Delhi University administration an ultimatum of 21 days regarding their demands and described the demonstration as part of continued efforts to show that the protesters were serious about the issue. Students involved in the protests have been demanding structural safety inspections, repair work in unsafe buildings, and greater administrative accountability concerning campus maintenance and student safety.

The demonstrations were organised in the backdrop of a recent incident reported at the Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, where the false ceiling of a laboratory allegedly collapsed during an MSc practical examination on 4 May 2026, injuring students present inside the room. Following the earlier protests, the Delhi University administration has reportedly instructed colleges and departments to conduct structural and electrical safety inspections across campuses

Image Source: Gopal Choudhary

Read Also: Protest Leader Gopal Choudhary Gives DU Administration 21-Day Ultimatum Over Campus Safety Concerns

Suansh Dembla

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Protest Leader Gopal Choudhary Gives DU Administration 21-Day Ultimatum Over Campus Safety Concerns

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Delhi University students protesting at the Faculty of Arts with placards highlighting campus infrastructure and safety concerns.

Raising concerns regarding repeated infrastructure-related incidents across campuses, students of the University of Delhi organised a protest at the Faculty of Arts. 

Students of the University of Delhi staged a protest at the Faculty of Arts earlier this week over alleged negligence regarding campus infrastructure and student safety. NSUI member Gopal Choudhary reportedly led the demonstration. Students raised concerns over a series of infrastructure-related incidents reported across various colleges and departments under the university.

Demonstrators demanded immediate structural safety audits of university buildings, urgent repair work in deteriorating facilities, and greater administrative accountability regarding campus safety measures.

Following the protests and growing concerns regarding campus infrastructure, the Delhi University administration has now reportedly instructed colleges and departments to conduct proper structural and electrical safety inspections across campuses. However, there is no official statement from the University administration regarding this decision.

Among the demands raised during the protest was the provision of life insurance and compensation support for students injured in infrastructure failures within university premises. Protesters also called upon the administration to publicly address recent incidents and implement preventive measures to avoid similar occurrences in the future.

In an interview with the Editorial Team of DU Beat, Gopal mentioned,

We have given the administration of DU an ultimatum of 21 days. During this time, we want them to conduct thorough inspection of all DU colleges and suspend classes as well as exams in campuses with poor infrastructure. Otherwise we will again stage a hunger strike until stricter actions are taken. We are also planning to file a RTI in 1-2 days time for how the annual budget is spent in every college. When we approached the administration of DU, they pointed us towards the individual colleges. And the admin in the colleges pointed us back to the VC. There is no end to this cycle and both of them are equally responsible. At the end they’ll have to work together if change is desired. 

Other than that, we are protesting for water coolers and ORS facilities in every classroom during the exam season in light of the prevalent heatwave. In addition to this, the 66.67% attendance criteria is also problematic. I will be attending a meeting on Monday with the administration to address these concerns.” 

Slogans such as “DU Campus or Danger Zone” and “Have we come here to study or die?” were seen on placards and raised during the demonstration, reflecting concerns among students regarding safety conditions on campus.

The protest follows a recent incident reported at the Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, on 4 May 2026 during an ongoing MSc practical examination. According to statements circulated online, the false ceiling of Lab Room No. 26 allegedly collapsed between 3:45 and 4:00 PM, along with a projector and nearby panels, while students were writing their examination.

One student reportedly sustained a severe head injury requiring several stitches and was taken to a nearby hospital in Civil Lines. Another student allegedly suffered minor shoulder injuries. The incident prompted renewed discussion among students regarding the structural condition of university buildings and the response mechanisms available during emergencies.

Visuals from the protest showed students assembled with placards and banners outside the Faculty of Arts premises, with slogans reportedly focusing on student safety and institutional accountability. Protesters alleged that multiple warnings and complaints regarding infrastructure conditions had previously been raised across colleges.

 

Image Source: Instagram gopal_choudharynsui

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Suansh Dembla

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LSR Students React to the Principal’s Statement on BJP’s Official Instagram Page

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LSR Principal gets featured on BJP's official page, sparking controversy.

LSR Principal, Kanika K. Ahuja faces extreme backlash from the students after her statement on Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam gets featured on BJP’s Official Instagram Handle. 

On the 13th of April, the Bharatiya Janata Party posted on their official Instagram Page a series of reactions praising the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, that is, the Women’s Reservation Bill. Amongst those featured was the Principal of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Dr. Kanika K. Ahuja. 

In the video she addresses the Women’s Reservation Bill calling it “a constitutional course correction.” She goes on to say that the bill “reflects the shift from women’s development to women’s led development” and remains hopeful for the prospects it shall bring to the “women leaders” graduating from LSR. What appears as an ordinary video however, received raging reactions from the student community of LSR, including current students and alumni who expressed grave concerns over the college’s state of affairs. 

The comment section of her video—what appears at first glance to have been recorded not at an official event, but exclusively for posting on BJP’s Page—has been exploding with comments from students across colleges, especially LSR bashing the Principal for her statement. One comment reads,

Women empowerment—yes sure. When we were not given a chance to raise our voices. When we were not allowed to make societies. When we were not allowed to invite some ‘specific speakers’ because we are APOLITICAL?” 

Another comment reads, “Political neutrality in the rulebook of the Union and political endorsements in the feed. Interesting.” 

The most common point of criticism that is presented by the students through their sarcastic remarks in the comments section remains against the ‘apolitical stance’ of Lady Shri Ram College, one that has repeatedly been reasserted, especially by the current Principal as reported by multiple students. Recently, an exhibition held by a society of LSR during the annual fest, Tarang 2026, was shut down after being taken out of context, due to its criticism of power hierarchy and certain political figures. Reportedly the Principal responded to the closure saying, “You need to understand that we as a government college can not side with or make any political statements.”  

Similar incidents have sparked over the past year when certain performing societies were made to change their performance scripts to avoid “controversy” and maintain an apolitical stance, along with the Diwali festival of LSR’s NSS, titled ‘Noor’ for as long as students can remember, being changed to ‘Varshik Samaroh Diwas’. 

The Deepak Vohra controversy last year, LSR’s non-affiliation with DUSU, and the college’s refusal to let Nivedita Menon, an ex-faculty member and an alumni of LSR, enter campus due to invitation by the non-affiliated LSR SFI  was further pointed out by students who remain outraged by the Principal’s recording a video for BJP’s page. One comment writes,

Same college that did not allow Nivedita Menon’s session to happen btw on the pretext that it was organised by a non-affiliated organisation. Is LSR affiliated with the beejaypee now?”

A graduate from LSR, assumingly familiar Dr. Kanika K. Ahuja as a professor, before she became the Principal writes, “From preaching in psych classes about non-partisanship, emancipation, and what not to this.” An anonymously-led Instagram Page of LSR called for a protest in lieu of the same on the 15th of April. 

However, while a majority of students continue to express their concerns and outrage over the impact of this video across Instagram, X, and Whatsapp, some students share their solidarity with their Principal. One comment writes, “Funny how every second comment here is trying to define ‘apolitical’. Reality? No one cares. The institution stands strong anyway. And we welcome the bill and ma’am’s stand.”

A similar sentiment was expressed by a fellow student on her Instagram story,

She’s speaking in women’s favour still getting hate cuz political parties matters more than women empowerment. Even I’m not a particular pol party supporter anymore but we should actually praise her for raising her voice on women’s empowerment rather than hating on her.”

What remains the larger question behind this outrage versus sympathy is the truth of being an apolitical college, especially an apolitical ‘women’s’ college in the 21st Century, within the space of Delhi University, and at large India. What consequences does this tag of ‘apolitical’ bear, not just upon the students, but the faculty and the administration, and what is the way forward to prevent as an alumni writes, “an institution undoing its own historical legacy”? 

 

Read also: Unrest at the LSR Campus Following Retired Diplomat Vohra’s Speech

 

Image Credits: Vanya for DU Beat

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Students Respond as ANI EIC Smita Prakash Alleges Disrespect as Chief Guest at Miranda House

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Students line up for registration outside the venue before the session of Smita Prakash

ANI Editor Mrs. Smita Prakash alleged disrespectful treatment at Miranda House by the MUN Club stating that the audience had not shown up to her session. However, contradictory reports state that several students from different colleges had queued up outside the venue for the session.

On 11th April, Asian News International (ANI) editor, Mrs. Smita Prakash, wrote on X that she was invited to Miranda House as the Chief Guest by the MUN Club, Suvakta for a speaker session at the Mini Auditorium. She had been invited as a part of the MUN Club’s fest Oratoria 2026 for a speaker session on Day 2, to address the audience on “Feminism and Global Politics”.  However, despite arriving before the scheduled time, she posted in her video that none of the students nor members of the staff were present to greet her, except barely 4 to 5 students while the event was expected to have a turnout of 150 to 300 attendees.

While the event was scheduled to start at 11:00 AM proceeded by the welcome of the Chief Guest at 11:15 AM, Mrs. Prakash after arriving at 10:58 AM, left the venue around 11:04AM. She took to X at exactly 11:17 AM, expressing her frustration. She expressed distrust about the convener of the event being “supposedly stuck in traffic on a Saturday,” and said that she wanted the principal, students, and staff of Miranda House to learn that “tardiness is equal to disrespect.”

However, according to the President of Suvakta, the participants had queued up outside the venue, as they were instructed, so that their confirmation emails could be checked. She stated that it was 11:00 AM when the emails were being checked and that Mrs. Prakash had requested on arrival for the session to commence earlier than the scheduled time, but due to the infeasibility of the request, the organisers had no choice but to deny. 

Speaking to DU Beat, the President dismissed allegations of a boycott on the grounds of conflicting political ideology, revealing that a large number of students, including medical students, students from distant colleges, and IITs, had turned up for the event. She added that the convenors and core council of Suvakta had tried to persuade her to stay, apologising for the inconvenience caused to her, but Mrs Prakash did not wish to listen to their requests. She said,

We were very disappointed, and we even apologised, but unfortunately, the session could not begin. People were very disappointed, so of course, we had to issue a wider apology as well. The formal apology was issued officially by our  club at around 4 in the evening,” 

A medical student who had left their surgery posting to attend the event, writing to the PR Head of Suvakta, said, “The guest entered and exited all in the course of 10 minutes…she posted a video saying there was no audience. We were right outside waiting.”

Another student attending the event wrote,

“I was super excited about the speaker session because I myself aspire to be a journalist. It was a space filled with [young women and men], and many of us admire and learn from such a public figure. It was so disheartening to see her act like this,”

A student from IIT Delhi, said that they had left their classes in hopes of an insightful interaction. He added,

“We were exploring the stalls before the seminar, around 11 and were just coming to the venue when we saw that ma’am had already left, which was quite disheartening because the session was scheduled to start at 11:15.”

A misunderstanding of the itinerary was what had supposedly caused this miscommunication between the event organisers and the Chief Guest. Miranda House has also issued a formal apology to Mrs. Prakash for the supposed delay both on her email, as published by the Chief Guest, and on LinkedIn. She has publicly accepted the apology on X and wrote, “Thank you Miranda House for this mail. Apology accepted. As we say in Punjabi, mitti pao. Wishing students and faculty the very best for the future.”

However, the event is not likely to be rescheduled. Regardless, Miranda House states that it hopes that Mrs. Prakash will likely return to campus in the near future.

 

Read Also: Hansraj College Fest Witnesses Chaos; Alleged Stabbing and Fights Ensued

Image Credits: President of Suvakta

 

Souparnika. S. Rajkumar

[email protected]

 

 

 

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