JNU students clashed with the Delhi Police on Monday as they protested against the fee hike and the “anti-student” policies of the varsity’s administration.
Jawaharlal Nehru Students’ Union (JNUSU) had on Sunday put out a call for students to assemble on campus, PTI reported. The plan was to subsequently march to the AICTE auditorium, where the university’s convocation ceremony is being held with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu as chief guest.
On Monday, massive police force and security personnel were deployed at the auditorium in Vasant Kunj, Indian Express reported. The protestors broke the barricades at the main gate, the daily said.
The students’ union has been on a strike for nearly two weeks against the Draft Hostel Manual which was approved by the Inter-Hall Administration. They say that the manual has provisions for fee hike, curfew timings and dress code restrictions for students.
They have said they will not end the strike till the Hostel Manual is withdrawn.
CPI’s Rajya Sabha MP D Raja told News18, “University authorities should understand. The protest is genuine, JNU is one of the best universities in the world and the students are fighting for their rights,”
During Monday’s protest, JNUSU president N Sai Balaji posted photos from the campus asking if the Delhi Police was allowed to handle “tear gas and weapons” in civilian clothing.
His observations were echoed by activist Kavita Krishnan and the CPI-ML, who slammed plainclothesmen wielding guns and tear gas.
Monday’s protest is also part of the students’ agitation against several other issues like restrictions by the administration on entry to Parathasarathy Rocks, attempts to lock students’ union office, etc, they said.
Last year, the students’ union called for boycotting the convocation, accusing JNU VC M Jagadesh Kumar of “muzzling their democratic rights”.
(With PTI inputs)