15 days on, JNU VC calls for end to hunger strike
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Students' Union (
JNUSU
) entered its 15th day on Friday, vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit appealed to the students to call off the protest, calling their demands "administratively unrealistic and legally not tenable.
"
In a letter addressed to the union, she urged them to end the strike and return to the negotiation table.
The hunger strike, launched on June 26, is being led by JNUSU with its president Nitish Kumar along with students Antariksh, Manikanta, and Loni currently are the ones fasting since past 15 days. Two more students—Abhishek and Briti—joined the protest subsequently. Their health is reportedly deteriorating.
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Several student organisations affiliated with INDIA bloc parties such as NSUI, SFI, AISA, PSU, AISE and CRJD, have issued a joint statement expressing "unwavering solidarity" with JNUSU.
They condemned the "apathy" of the administration and accused the VC of acting under "political pressure."
The protestors are demanding the reinstatement of the university's autonomous entrance exam, halting the removal of PhD students from hostels, revocation of proctorial enquiries, and an increase in the merit-cum-means scholarship to Rs 5,000.
The student groups warned that the movement would intensify if the demands remained unaddressed.
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