JNU Students Go On Hunger Strike
By Countercurrents.org
28 April, 2016
Countercurrents.org
Led by JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, a group of students from Jawaharlal Nehru Univeristy, (JNU) Delhi started an indefinite hunger strike demanding a rollback of the university authorities' punishment for them. Students participating in the indefinite hunger-strike are Kanhaiya Kumar, Rama Naga- General Secretary JNUSU, Shweta Raj, Chintu Kumari, Anant Prakash Narayan, Sraborni Ahmed , Aqsa Asger, Nitisha Kholkar, K. Feyaz Ahmed , Pratim Ghoshal, Anand, Pankhuri Zaheer, Samanth Singh, Sunaina , G. Suresh, Birendra, Awadesh, Sanjeev and Parthipan
The university has accused the students of "arousing communal caste feelings, creating disharmony and colluding in the unauthorized entry of outsiders".
Kanhaiya Kumar said that they would not accept the punishment, pay fine or vacate hostel.
"We have been maintaining right from the beginning that we have no faith in the probe committee. We are all sitting on hunger strike against the arbitrary punishments given to us. The inquiry was a sham and students have rejected it in our general body meeting. We will not abide by the punishment given to us," JNUSU general secretary Rama Naga said.
Five members of ABVP have also been sitting on hunger strike since yesterday, alleging that the university was "criminalising" patriotism. The protest started after ABVP member Saurabh Sharma -- who was the complainant in the police case - was slapped with a penalty of Rs. 10,000 for blocking traffic.
The High Level Committee that enquired into the February 9 event on the death anniversary of Afzal Guru had handed down rustication and fines for several students.
Umar Khalid was rusticated for one semester and a fine of Rs. 20,000 imposed on him Anirban Bhhatacharya was declared out of bounds from the campus for five years after July 23, 2016. He has been rusticated till the period of July 15. Both of them were arrested by Delhi police on sedition charges and spent about 15 days in Tihar jail under judicial custody.
JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, who was also charged with sedition and arrested in connection with the incident has, however, not been rusticated. The university authorities have imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 on him.
Other students punished are,
Ashutosh Kumar, former JNUSU President, removed from hostel for one year + fine.
Chintu Kumari, former JNUSU Gen Sec: 20K fine
Rama Naga, current JNUSU Gen Sec: 20K fine
Anant Prakash Narayan, former JNUSU Vice-President: 20K fine
Aishwarya , current GSCASH representative: 20K fine.
Gargi, current JNUSU councillor: 20 K fine
Other organisers fined from 10K to 20K
Two ex students declared out of bounds from campus.
Anirban Bhattacharya said that "Our Decision, simple: UNACCEPTABLE. Down with the fascist witch-hunt of student activists by the administration under the diktats of Nagpur! Reject as per the UGBM mandate the punishments handed down by the administration on the basis of the findings of the farcical HLEC! Right to Dissent Long Live!"