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Jamia resorts to carrot and stick approach to end hunger strikeOT, 0 IST Okhla Times Campus Reporter/Ground Zero
MAY 10, 2011: Authorities in Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) have resorted to the carrot and stick approach to convince some 20 MCRC students to end their more than 72 hours hunger strike that they had started on May 7 around 11 A.M. after the university did not allow them to sit in the exams on the ground of short attendance. Initially, the authorities took help of the Delhi police to forcibly evacuate striking students from the campus on May 8, claimed a protesting student. But when the University failed in its endeavour, it cut power of some four street lamps and locked all the main gates forcing striking students to use public toilets, according to a student. But when the students continued with their protest, some three teachers including two from MCRC unofficially visited the students on May 9 afternoon. JMI Mass Communication final year student Nabeela Zaidi said: “Two teachers came unofficially to discuss the issue with us. They tried to convince us to end the hunger strike. But we will continue our strike until our demands are not met.” Some protesting students said the University has done everything possible to discredit the peaceful agitation. In a press release issued on May 9, it said: “What is now dismaying is that anti-social elements are trying to hijack the dharna by the AJK MCRC students, with the view to disturb the peace in the area. One ex-student, who has a campus ban imposed on him for unacceptable anti-social activities in the university, has been reported to the police when he was found instigating these students.” A student who was at the protesting spot, on condition of the anonymity, rubbished this claim. She said: “Many people have come to meet us. We don’t know all of them. Our protest is peaceful one.” Local councilors Engineer Jamaluddin and Danish Khan (both from the Congress party and Jamia alumni) visited the spot on May 9 afternoon and discussed the issue with the striking students. Jamaluddin told OKHLA TIMES: “We would like both the sides to settle the matter amicably. But I condemn the police act. Most of the protesting students are girls and hence there is no question of creating disturbance.” Media Coordinator Simi Malhotra said: “Action against some 20 AJK MCRC was taken after the University authorities found them short of attendance of which 13 approached the Delhi High Court. 12 of these petitions have been rejected by the Court with strict instructions to the University to comply and follow its rules and Ordinances. This matter, in fact, has been widely reported in the press also. Moreover, the parents of all these students were informed not once but several times of the lack of attendance of their wards.” Students are seeking relaxation and the university is adamant not to give any. ALSO IN THIS SECTION:
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