New Delhi: The students' agitation triggered by the attack on students who blockaded the vice chancellor's office, in the Jamia Millia Central University, ended late Wednesday. The nearly 1000-strong gathering of students withdrew the strike after authorities accepted their demands.
Following the entire student community of the university boycotting classes and staging a sit-in, the varsity authoirities came forward for talks. The decision to call off the strike was taken after the talks.
Meanwhile, TN Pratapan, member of parliament from Kerala arrived at the campus and expressed solidarity with the students' demands. He blamed the authorities for taking a stance to silence different voices in the campus. On Tuesday, assailants who entered the campus, allegedly with the support of university bosses, beat scores of students including girls.
The university had suspended five students who protested against a seminar conducted in co-operation with Israel. The students who then demanded the lifting of their suspension and gathered in front of the vice chancellor's residence, were attacked by a gang that came from outside. They dragged the protesters, without even giving consideration to their being girls, alleged Ladeeda Farzana and Aysha Renna, both students from Kerala,
SIO demands union elecions
Students Islamic Organization (SIO) raised a demand that in order to maintain the democratic atmosphere of the university, students' union elections should be held. It is imperative for addressing the issues of the students. If the authorities are not prepared to resolve the issues, strong protests will be held, said SIO General Secretary Sasyyid Azharuddeen at a news conference held on Wednesday.
He demanded that the steps taken against the students should be withdrawn and action should taken against those entered the campus from outside and attacked the students.