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The Print
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
‘PhD wallah', voices for minorities & a Right-wing surprise: Meet JNU's new student union leaders
AISA's Nitish Kumar, popularly known as 'PhD wallah' among students, won the post of JNUSU president with 1,702 votes. The 26-year-old is a third-year PhD scholar at the Centre for Political Studies. He belongs to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community and hails from a farming family in Sheikhpura, Bihar. Speaking to ThePrint, Kumar said his early experiences and lack of opportunities shaped his political journey. 'Since there was no education and infrastructure in my village, I have been living outside since the age of 7,' he said. New Delhi: The closely contested Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union Election (JNUSU) saw the Left alliance—All India Students Association (AISA) and Democratic Students' Federation (DSF)—retain the top three posts. It also marked a comeback for the Right with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) securing the joint secretary post. At JNU, he began his political career by joining AISA in 2021. Among the key issues he has put forward is the university's deteriorating infrastructure. 'The first thing I want to fix is all the ACs in the library to give respite to students in this heat. Wherever there is an infrastructure problem, in hostels, classrooms, we will make it our priority in the first month,' Kumar told ThePrint. He also vowed to intensify the push for the restoration of the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE), a longstanding demand of many student groups. Reacting to the ABVP's victory, Kumar said, 'I want to appeal to them not to repeat the mistake they made in 2015-16, when they propelled a campaign of 'Shut Down JNU'. If they try anything like that again, the students who have elected them will throw them out instantly.' Asked about the split in the Left forces ahead of the election, Kumar said, 'For about 10 years, from 2016 onward, we fought against the fascists from ABVP as a United Left front, making an anti-fascist alliance.' 'However, ahead of these elections, the SFI did not understand the meaning of fascism. According to them, fascism has not arrived in the Modi-Shah BJP. We in AISA firmly believe that fascism has already arrived,' he added. A split in the United Left alliance this year led to the AISA and DSF fighting elections together, while the All India Students' Federation (AISF), Students' Federation of India (SFI), Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association (BAPSA) and Progressive Students' Association (PSA) allied together. Manisha—Vice-President, JNUSU DSF's Manisha, who goes only by one name, was elected Vice-President with 1,150 votes. A third-year PhD scholar in Chinese Studies, Manisha hails from Bhawar village in Haryana's Sonipat district. Coming from a Dalit background, she has been a staunch advocate for student rights and social justice. 'I have no hesitation in saying that I am a Dalit,' she told ThePrint. On assuming office, Manisha said, 'The first thing I will work on is the rollback of library and lab fund cuts and addressing infrastructure issues.' She also took a strong stance against what she called the 'tahansahi farman' (dictatorial order) of the JNU administration imposing hefty fines of Rs 10,000 or Rs 20,000 on protesting students. 'We will reject these anti-student measures,' she said. Munteha Fatima—General Secretary, JNUSU Munteha Fatima, 28, also from DSF, secured the general secretary post with 1,520 votes, marking another significant win for the Left. 'As a woman, and once in office, my priority will be to make sure that the campus feels safe, day and night. I will work to strengthen the deprivation points for female research scholars and strive to make JNU a sexual harassment-free space,' Fatima, a PhD scholar in West Asian Studies, said. Her commitment to minority rights is also central to her agenda. 'I come from a Muslim Community, and therefore it is my duty to ensure that minorities on campus feel safe, respected and free from discrimination,' she added. Fatima hails from Patna, Bihar. Vaibhav Meen—Joint Secretary, JNUSU In a surprising twist, ABVP's Vaibhav Meena was elected JNUSU joint secretary, securing 1,005 votes, defeating AISA's Naresh Kumar by a narrow margin of 85 votes. Hailing from Karauli, Rajasthan, Meena is a research scholar in Hindi literature. Speaking to ThePrint, Meena said, 'My focus will be to resolve campus issues, especially hostel problems and fellowship delays. Along with these, we will also work to promote nationalism on the campus.' While ABVP did not win the top posts, their presence in the central panel is seen as a formidable challenge to the Left, particularly the Right-wing party has won its first post on the central panel since 2015. Kartikay Chaturvedi is an intern who graduated from ThePrint School of Journalism. (Edited by Sanya Mathur) Also Read: How Left student leaders from JNU & Allahabad University have emerged as key members of Team Priyanka
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- The Hindu
Jamia student molested in front of gate; accused arrested
A Kashmiri student enrolled at Jamia Millia Islamia as a day scholar was molested in front of the security guards on Sunday night. Though the accused was arrested soon after the incident, student outfits accused the guards of inaction. According to the police, the accused, Aabid, a resident of Nuh in Haryana, molested the victim in front of gate no. 8 of the university on Sunday night. He was a cook in the J&K hostel mess in the university. 'According to the complainant, she was walking on the footpath around the university campus when the incident happened,' said a senior officer While the accused was immediately detained, the complainant's statement was recorded on Monday, he added. The police have booked the accused under Section 74 and 75 (usage of criminal force on a woman with the intent to outrage her morality) of the BNS. In a statement, the university said the incident was 'unfortunate and strongly condemnable' and swift action was taken. 'The university addressed the situation promptly on Sunday night itself. The perpetrator was immediately nabbed and the university authorities have taken multiple rounds of the campus, patrolling every nook and corner to ensure that the campus remains peaceful and secure,' the JMI statement read. It added that senior officials, including the Vice-Chancellor, have been conducting regular rounds to reassure students, especially women, of their safety. Meanwhile, the All India Students' Association (AISA) criticised the university for the lapse. AISA alleged that the incident took place in full view of the security staff, who failed to intervene. They further demanded a transparent investigation, strict action against the perpetrator, and accountability for the security personnel who allegedly failed in their duty. 'Safety is a right and not a privilege,' the student outfit said in a statement, calling for urgent measures to protect students, especially women and marginalised groups.
Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Son of tribal farmers, PhD scholar: How ABVP's Vaibhav Meena broke barriers to reach JNU — found a spot on its students' union
Long before he stepped into Jawaharlal Nehru University's sprawling campus, Vaibhav Meena spent his days balancing coursework with side jobs at call centres in Jaipur. The son of tribal farmers from Rajasthan's Karauli district, Meena worked to pay his university fees, determined to have an education his family had never imagined for him. 'I come from a simple lower-middle-class family background where we had to support our own education. While pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Jaipur, I worked at a call centre to pay my fees. Then I did my Master's from Banaras Hindu University,' the 27-year-old told The Indian Express after his win in the JNU students' union election. He bagged the post of joint secretary — marking the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's (ABVP) return to the central panel for the first time in nearly a decade. The ABVP last held a central panel seat in 2015-16, when it won the post of Joint Secretary by defeating the AISA candidate by a narrow margin of 28 votes. Polling for the four central panel posts was held on Friday. Of the 7,906 eligible voters, close to 70% cast their votes — slightly lower than last year's turnout of around 73%. In the final tally, Nitish Kumar from the All India Students' Association (AISA) was elected President, Manisha from the Democratic Students' Front (DSF) became Vice-President, Munteha Fatima from DSF was elected General Secretary, while Meena clinched the post of Joint Secretary for ABVP. The AISA, which broke away from the Students' Federation of India, allied with DSF for the polls. Meena, now a PhD scholar in Hindi Literature at JNU, has become the first from his village to enter the university and made it to the central student body. Growing up, he said, his father's interest in politics laid the foundation for his own political journey. 'My father has always been my inspiration to enter student politics. I have been associated with the ABVP since my time at Jaipur University.' But Meena's entry into JNU wasn't just about academic ambition, it was about breaking barriers of caste, geography, and class. 'I come from a tribal background… my mother and father work as farmers,' he said. 'I am the first from my village to do a PhD in Hindi.' Apart from the central panel win, the ABVP claimed it won 23 out of 42 councillor seats across JNU's 16 schools and special centres. In a statement issued Sunday, ABVP described its performance as 'historic,' highlighting breakthroughs into traditionally Left-dominated bastions such as the School of Social Sciences and the School of International Studies. In a statement earlier, the student body also said that the 'failure of the current Left-led JNUSU has raised concerns over academic quality, infrastructural facilities and democratic discourse on campus'. Asked about operating within a historically Left-dominated campus, Meena remained unfazed. 'We have done very well in winning most of the councillor posts in schools, so I don't think it should be a problem,' he said. 'The Left has been dominant for a decade, but still, look at the campus and its deteriorating infrastructure. They couldn't make anything better. This is my goal: to make JNU better for students and to save it from the 'deshdrohi' image that the Left is responsible for.' For Meena, student politics is only the beginning. His ambition stretches far beyond JNU's campus gates. 'I aim to enter active politics in the future while being associated with the Vidyarthi Parishad and wish to do more work to uplift people in our society,' he said.
NDTV
28-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Kashmiri Student Assaulted At Jamia Millia Islamia, Mess Worker Detained
New Delhi: A mess worker at the Jamia Millia Islamia University in the national capital has been detained for allegedly assaulting a Kashmiri woman student on campus, police said on Monday. The alleged assault took place around 9:30 pm on April 27 when a 24-year-old second-year MA student was allegedly assaulted by a 22-year-old mess worker, identified as Abid. "The accused was detained the same night. The student has not yet filed a formal complaint, but she is expected to do so today, after which an FIR will be registered," a police official stated. Police added that the altercation stemmed from a personal matter. According to a student group, the assault occurred outside Gate 8 of the campus. The university administration has not yet issued an official response. The All India Students' Association (AISA) at Jamia condemned the assault, calling it a serious security lapse. They alleged the incident was linked to ongoing harassment faced by Kashmiri students in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, though police maintain it was an isolated personal dispute. AISA has criticised the security staff, claiming they stood by during the incident and allowed the accused to re-enter campus unchecked. "Despite being a heavily militarized space, the university has repeatedly failed in its responsibility to ensure safety," AISA said. The group demanded a transparent investigation, strict action against the perpetrator, and accountability of the security personnel involved. Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has released emergency helpline numbers and formed a dedicated team to support students and liaise with authorities. 26 people were killed in the Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam terrror attack which took place in Baisaran meadow. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Time of India
Kashmiri student assaulted at Delhi's Jamia Millia University
Jamia Milia Islamia University NEW DELHI: A Jamia Millia Islamia University mess worker has been detained for allegedly assaulting a 24-year-old Kashmiri female student on campus in New Delhi on April 27 around 9.30 pm. The incident occurred outside Gate 8 of the campus, involving a 22-year-old mess worker identified as Abid. The student, who is pursuing her second-year MA, has not filed a formal complaint yet but is expected to do so today, after which an FIR will be registered. "The accused was detained the same night. The student has not yet filed a formal complaint, but she is expected to do so today, after which an FIR will be registered," a police official stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest $200 in Amazon without buying stocks to earn a second salary Marketsall Sign Up Undo Police officials have indicated that the altercation stemmed from a personal matter, contrary to claims linking it to recent events in Kashmir. The All India Students' Association at Jamia has condemned the incident as a serious security lapse. They criticized the security staff for allegedly allowing the accused to re-enter campus unchecked after the assault. "Despite being a heavily militarized space, the university has repeatedly failed in its responsibility to ensure safety," AISA said. The incident has prompted the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association to establish emergency helpline numbers and form a dedicated team to support students and coordinate with authorities. AISA has connected the assault to alleged harassment of Kashmiri students following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, though police maintain it was an isolated personal dispute. The university administration has not yet issued an official response to the incident. The referenced Pahalgam terror attack in Baisaran meadow resulted in 26 casualties, marking it as one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike that claimed 40 CRPF jawans' lives.
