Jamia Teachers Association president shares dais with protesting students

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All India Students’ Association (AISA) today organized a convention Save Jamia at Urdu Ghar, demanding campus democracy in Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), roll-back of the massive fee hike, and justice for Hamidur Rehman who has been refused admission in university simply for asking for student union elections.

While addressing the students gathered on the spot, Sandeep Singh, national president of AISA, said: “Today, in JMI, public places are under the constant surveillance of CCTV cameras; private security ‘bulls’ patrol the grounds to prevent public gatherings, pasting of posters, or distribution of leaflets; even asking a question can be a crime; where fear is the tool to ensure compliance.”

Several intellectuals, faculty members from Delhi University, JMI and JNU spoke out against this undemocratic regime of fee hikes and scuttling of democratic rights in Jamia, according to press release issued by AISA.

Human rights activist Gautam Navlakha expressed deep concern over the situation in JMI.

“The situation in Jamia, the victimization of Hamidur Rehman, is not an exception. We are seeing Vice Chancellors across the country telling students, don’t be curious, don’t be inquisitive, just worry about your careers, maintain the status quo. VCs feel they can get away with anything, with arbitrary use of power. Only pro-establishment students and student organizations are allowed”, he said. 

A siege from within: JTA president Prof Bhutt
Jamia Teachers’ Association president Prof. MS Bhutt said: “On the one hand, we have an assault on universities through privatisation packages and bills like the Foreign Universities Bill. On the other hand, universities are a facing a siege from within. What we are seeing in Jamia is a symptom of this siege. We are seeing violation of not just students’ rights, but teachers’ rights too. We are seeing an erosion of institutional integrity and credibility in Jamia. Every dissent is seen with suspicion; a dissent which can challenge national integration. How come every dissent from Jamia is seen by administrators, by the media, by intellectuals, as a threat to national integration?” 

Rehman, Nesar share their experience
Hamidur Rehman, the student who has filed a case in the Delhi High Court spoke of his experiences of intimidation, threats and harassment from the Jamia administration. Nesar, a journalist with Siyasi Taqdeer, an Urdu daily, spoke about how he was harassed merely for covering a democratic protest against fee hike in Jamia. 

Dr. Akhlaque Ahmed and Dr. Maninder Thakur, faculty members from JNU spoke of the prevailing crisis in Jamia and the situation of fear amongst students and teachers.

Sitab Ali Chowdhary, advocate in the High Court and the lawyer fighting Hamidur Rehman’s case talked of how he came to file the ongoing case.

Stifling campus
“Students in JMI cannot even demand for better food in their messes, lack of democracy is stifling the campus”, he said.

Javed Naqvi, noted journalist and activist talked of how in the past the student movement had succeeded in toppling over undemocratic and authoritarian Vice Chancellors. “One has to see the links between authoritarianism of the university authorities and the policies of globalization and privatization of higher education,” he added.

CAPTION: Speakers at the convention Save Jamia at Urdu Ghar (Photo by AISA)