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India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Aligarh Muslim University students demand fee reversal and return of union polls
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students have entered the fifth day of a large-scale protest, demanding a reversal of steep fee hikes and the conduct of delayed student union All India Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging him to intervene and restore equitable access to a statement, the national convenor, Nasir Khehami, described the increase as 'arbitrary, unjustified and exclusionary,' noting fee hikes of 'up to 36-42 per cent' across various 'For this session, the fee for some courses has increased by around 30-40 per cent. For example, the course fee was Rs 16,000 last year and has been raised to over Rs 22,000,' he Proctor Wasim Ali justified the hikes as necessary to improve infrastructure, asserting they stemmed from decisions made by 'various committees,' with increases ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500 depending on the countered that the rationale failed to alleviate the financial burden on students, many from underprivileged and working-class families already struggling with essential expenses, including DEMANDS AND DEMOCRATIC DEFICITSThe Association's letter also urged immediate action over alleged misconduct during the Bab-e-Syed Gate, protestors conducting a peaceful dharna were reportedly dragged away amid claims of excessive force. Since no student union has existed at AMU for seven years, Khehami argued that any peaceful dissent is effectively 'gagged' by authorities lacking accountability and absence of democratic bodies has heightened the communication gap on at Bab-e-Syed Gate have voiced three core demands: a full rollback of the fee hike, restoration of student union elections delayed for eight years, and removal of senior university officials deemed responsible for the repeated boycott of classes underscores the depth of their RESPONSE AND CAMPUS CONDITIONSAMU Spokesman Omar Peerzada stated the university is addressing student concerns through dialogue. A committee led by Professor M Asmer Beg has been tasked with reviewing the fee students have been invited to submit their suggestions via a proforma shared widely through social media, enabling them to outline their demands addition to the fee and governance issues, the student association has raised alarm about the squalid conditions in several AMU hostels. They described the living spaces as overcrowded with poor sanitation, urgently calling on the Union Education Minister to MPs have also taken up the matter, writing to Vice-Chancellor Prof Naima Khatoon to condemn the crackdown witnessed on Friday, when protestors offering collective prayers at their dharna were reportedly subjected to protests have now captured sustained attention, reflecting a broader struggle for fairness, student rights, and institutional accountability. As classrooms remain empty and emotions run high, students and faculty alike await resolution to these pressing concerns.(With inputs from PTI)- Ends
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
AMU students oppose 42% fee hike, demand urgent rollback to protect underprivileged learners
Students at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have been protesting for five days against a sharp increase in annual fees, which they say will block access to higher education for many, especially those from economically weaker backgrounds. On Tuesday, the protest intensified with students marching to the district collectorate and burning an effigy of Vice Chancellor Naima Khatoon. Fee hike up to 42% sparks outrage The recent fee hike ranges between 36 to 42 percent for some courses. For instance, the annual fee for the Bachelor of Library Science ( course jumped from Rs 16,000 last year to over Rs 22,000 this year. The All India Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (AIJKSA) described the increase as 'arbitrary, unjustified and exclusionary,' reported PTI. J&K students association appeals to Union Education Minister Nasir Khehami, AIJKSA's national convenor, said, 'The students have been courageously opposing what they see as an arbitrary, unjustified and exclusionary fee hike of up to 36-42 per cent imposed by the university administration,' as reported by PTI. He added, 'For this session, the fee for some courses has increased by around 30-40 per cent. For example, the course fee was Rs 16,000 last year and has been raised to over Rs 22,000. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Online Skin Care Consultation - Learn More AskLayers Learn More Undo ' University cites infrastructure improvements as reason for hike AMU Proctor Wasim Ali confirmed the fee increase ranged from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 across courses, explaining that the hike was mainly to improve infrastructure and was a collective decision by various committees, reported PTI. However, Khehami emphasised, 'this explanation does not lessen the crushing burden on the students, many of whom come from socially backward classes, working-class families and economically weaker sections, and are already struggling to meet their daily expenses, including basic meals,' as reported by PTI. Besides the fee issue, students have been demanding the conduct of students' union elections, which have not been held for eight years. They also seek the removal of certain senior university officials whom they accuse of mishandling the current crisis, reported PTI. Concerns over police crackdown on campus The protests saw a police crackdown on Friday during collective prayers at the dharna site. Opposition MPs have expressed concern over the reported use of force, writing to the Vice Chancellor demanding explanations and accountability, according to PTI. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a national coalition of farmer bodies, has extended its support to the AMU students. The SKM plans to highlight student grievances alongside farmer issues at a 'Virodh Diwas' protest in Aligarh. The group has also called for an investigation into the police actions on campus, reported PTI. The ongoing protests at AMU highlight the challenges faced by students from underprivileged backgrounds in accessing affordable higher education. As fees rise sharply, many fear losing the opportunity to study at prestigious institutions like AMU. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here .
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Students association demands rollback in AMU fee hike
Aligarh: The All India Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urging him to take action for immediately rolling back the hike in annual fees at AMU, saying it would deprive thousands of students from underprivileged families from securing higher education. In a statement on Tuesday, the national convenor of the Association Nasir Khehami said, 'The students have been courageously opposing what they see as an arbitrary, unjustified and exclusionary fee hike of up to 36-42 per cent imposed by the university administration.' 'For this session, the fee for some courses has increased by around 30-40 per cent. For example, the course fee was Rs 16,000 last year and has been raised to over Rs 22,000,' Khehami said. He said AMU Proctor Wasim Ali had confirmed that the university has increased fees between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500 for different courses, claiming it is mainly to improve the infrastructure and that it was a collective decision made by various committees. 'However, this explanation does not lessen the crushing burden on the students, many of whom come from socially backward classes, working-class families and economically weaker sections, and are already struggling to meet their daily expenses, including basic meals,' he said in the letter. AMU spokesman Omar Peerzada said the university was taking prompt steps to address the 'concerns of continuing students on issues relating to fee hike'. He said the university has issued a proforma via social media platforms for wider circulation, inviting suggestions from the continuing students (students currently pursuing courses) regarding the recent fee hike. In an official release, the AMU on Tuesday said that Prof M Asmer Beg, the convener of the recently appointed committee on fee hike issue and, has asked bona-fide students to submit suggestions on the fee hike issue by filing a proforma mentioning their demands. The letter also urged the government to order a probe into the alleged assault and excesses committed on the protestors at the Bab-e-Syed Gate on Friday, when they were allegedly dragged out from the dharna site when they were conducting a peaceful protest. The Association has in its letter alleged that since there is no elected students union at AMU since the past seven years any peaceful protest is gagged by the AMU authorities who have 'no accountability and transparency,' and there is a growing communication gap on the campus in the absence of democratic bodies within the campus.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
AMU Students Protest Against Fee Hike, Demand Rollback And Student Union Elections
AMU students protest against the recent fee hike, demanding an immediate rollback and calling for long-pending student union elections to restore campus democracy. The All India Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has appealed to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to urgently reverse the recent steep hike in annual fees at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), warning that the increase will prevent thousands of students from underprivileged backgrounds from accessing higher education. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Nasir Khehami, the Association's national convenor, said, 'The students have been courageously opposing what they see as an arbitrary, unjustified and exclusionary fee hike of up to 36-42 per cent imposed by the university administration." He added, 'For this session, the fee for some courses has increased by around 30-40 per cent. For example, the course fee was Rs 16,000 last year and has been raised to over Rs 22,000." Khehami further noted that AMU Proctor Wasim Ali confirmed the fee increase ranged from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 across courses, explaining that the hike was mainly to improve infrastructure and was a collective decision by various committees. However, he emphasised, 'this explanation does not lessen the crushing burden on the students, many of whom come from socially backward classes, working-class families and economically weaker sections, and are already struggling to meet their daily expenses, including basic meals." AMU spokesperson Omar Peerzada said the university was taking prompt steps to address students' concerns regarding the fee hike. The university has circulated a proforma on social media platforms, inviting continuing students to submit suggestions related to the fee increase. Prof M Asmer Beg, convener of the newly formed committee on the fee hike issue, has urged bona-fide students to file their demands through the proforma. The Students Association also called on the government to investigate the alleged assault on protesters at the Bab-e-Syed Gate during a peaceful demonstration on Friday, when they were forcibly removed from the dharna site. The Association highlighted the absence of an elected student union at AMU for the past seven years, accusing university authorities of suppressing peaceful protests due to 'no accountability and transparency," and said a communication gap is growing on campus without democratic student bodies. Additionally, the Association urged the Union Education Minister to look into the dire conditions of AMU hostels, citing overcrowding, poor sanitation, and lack of hygiene. Meanwhile, protests at the AMU campus entered their fifth day on Tuesday, with a large number of students boycotting classes. On Sunday, protesters gathered at Bab-e-Syed Gate for an indefinite dharna demanding the rollback of the fee hike, holding long-overdue student union elections that have been delayed for eight years, and calling for the removal of senior university officials allegedly responsible for the crisis. Several Opposition MPs have also written to AMU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon, expressing concern over police and university actions against protesters last Friday, when students were offering collective Friday prayers at the dharna site. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 13, 2025, 07:43 IST News education-career AMU Students Protest Against Fee Hike, Demand Rollback And Student Union Elections Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
AMU students demand fee rollback, student union elections
The All India Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging him to take action to immediately roll back the hike in annual fees at AMU, saying it would deprive thousands of students from underprivileged families from securing higher education. In a statement on Tuesday, the national convenor of the Association Nasir Khehami said, 'The students have been courageously opposing what they see as an arbitrary, unjustified and exclusionary fee hike of up to 36-42 per cent imposed by the university administration.' 'For this session, the fee for some courses has increased by around 30-40 per cent. For example, the course fee was Rs 16,000 last year and has been raised to over Rs 22,000,' Khehami said. He said AMU Proctor Wasim Ali had confirmed that the university has increased fees between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500 for different courses, claiming it is mainly to improve the infrastructure and that it was a collective decision made by various committees. 'However, this explanation does not lessen the crushing burden on the students, many of whom come from socially backward classes, working-class families and economically weaker sections, and are already struggling to meet their daily expenses, including basic meals,' he said in the letter. AMU spokesman Omar Peerzada said the university was taking prompt steps to address the 'concerns of continuing students on issues relating to fee hike'. He said the university has issued a proforma via social media platforms for wider circulation, inviting suggestions from the continuing students (students currently pursuing courses) regarding the recent fee hike. In an official release, the AMU on Tuesday said that Prof M Asmer Beg, the convener of the recently appointed committee on fee hike issue and, has asked bona-fide students to submit suggestions on the fee hike issue by filing a proforma mentioning their demands. The letter also urged the government to order a probe into the alleged assault and excesses committed on the protestors at the Bab-e-Syed Gate on Friday, when they were allegedly dragged out from the dharna site when they were conducting a peaceful protest. The Association has in its letter alleged that since there is no elected students union at AMU since the past seven years any peaceful protest is gagged by the AMU authorities who have 'no accountability and transparency,' and there is a growing communication gap on the campus in the absence of democratic bodies within the campus. The Association has also urged the Union Education minister to examine the pathetic condition in different AMU hostels where thousands of students are living in 'over-crowded hostels with poor sanitation and lack of hygiene'. Meanwhile, protests at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus entered the fifth day on Tuesday, with students continuing their boycott of classes in large numbers, a senior faculty member said. On Sunday, the protestors had gathered at the Bab-e-Syed gate to continue their indefinite dharna. They were demanding the rollback of a fee hike, the conduct of long-pending students' union elections, which had not been held for eight years, and the removal of certain senior university officials allegedly responsible for the crisis. Several Opposition MPs have written to AMU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon expressing concern over the police and university crackdown on Friday, when protestors were offering collective Friday prayers at the dharna site.
