Controversy is growing over the resumption of student union elections in Jamia Millia Islamia University. The students have been on hunger strike for the past several days. They allege that the university administration is mistreating them. Speaking to the media, the students said that the administration should listen to them.

Jamia University has been shut down, with the administration moving all classes online citing security and a tense environment. The students alleged that they were being threatened to end their hunger strike.

‘My health is getting worse day by day’

A student said that we have been on hunger strike for the last 14 days. He said that my health is deteriorating day by day. They are starting to feel weak but the Jamia administration is not serious about any of their demands. He said that the Jamia administration closed the library, closed the canteen and also closed the washrooms. There classes started online.

‘How did the suspects enter the campus?’

A large number of police forces have been deployed around Jamia in view of the tension. The police are forcibly detaining the students coming there. Students say that all are being detained without any reason and without any information. The student said that yesterday during the day a person suddenly entered the campus and during checking an ITBP uniform was found in his bag. Students raised questions as to how the Jamia administration allowed this person to enter the campus.

The students said that the vice chancellor came to the university in the morning. Meanwhile, all the cameras in the campus were switched off. He said that it was a conspiracy of the administration to forcefully remove the people who were on hunger strike.

‘Emergency situation has arisen’

A student named Rihan said that our registrar came yesterday and did not accept our demands. Along with this, he warned us that the responsibility of whatever happens in the campus now will not be of the administration but of the students. The student said that online classes were conducted. In a way, an emergency situation has arisen here. The student said that water supply is off in all our departments. After a while the electricity went off. The student said that this attitude of the administration is not right at all. This attitude shows how barbaric he has descended and he has started treating us as thugs and not his children.

‘Want to riot…’

The student said, ‘I am on hunger strike inside, but some of our friends standing outside at the gate are being called jihadis. It’s not good. If you want to riot like this, this is the wrong way to go. We live in a democracy, we have our own rights that we are demanding. The student said that Jamia campus has three sisters. Delhi Police has detained him. Some of our brothers have given detailed information. He said that the Delhi Police had no right to enter the campus. He said on whose orders the police are coming in and inspecting the campus.

‘Why is the administration afraid of children?’

The students made it clear that their fight was about the demand for restoration of elections. He asked why the Jamia administration was afraid of the children. Inside the campus it is said that the seniors are safe, but since last night we feel that we are not. He said a man comes in an hour early and when he checks his bag he finds a uniform in it. He said that people are being allowed inside one after another.