JMI Protest: Congress extends support to protesters amid campus unrest

NEW DELHI: Students protesting for the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union on Monday refused to call off their agitation, demanding that the university announce an election date after it issued an order earlier in the day stating that polls would be held within 15 days of the approval of the union's constitution. At a press conference organised by the Jamia Collective at Syeda Manzil in Jamia Nagar, alumni, members of the university's founding families, artists, lawyers and student representatives extended solidarity with the protesters and called for the restoration of democratic spaces on campus. 

The Congress also said it stands in solidarity and support of protesting students who are seeking political empowerment through the revival of their student union, a day after its two MPs were booked on trespassing and other charges following a complaint by the university registrar. 

Congress general secretary, Organisation, K C Venugopal alleged that university authorities had adopted a heavy-handed approach and were "taking instructions" from the central government for "distracting and defaming the protesters". As the protest entered its 15th day on Monday, the university ordered that students' union elections be held within 15 days of the approval of the union's constitution and revoked suspension and show-cause notices issued to students during the ongoing protest. 

The order, issued by Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, also provided for the constitution of a committee to inquire into the conduct of security staff during the protest period. The decisions came after the university considered a demand letter submitted by students on hunger strike and their delegates. According to the order, the protesting students have agreed to issue a public apology at a press conference for defamatory statements, actions or social media posts made against the university administration during the agitation. Such posts are to be taken down from social media platforms with immediate effect. 

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JMI Campus Protest

The order stated that the protest will be called off immediately following its issuance. However, the students, who are demanding the restoration of the students' union, whose elections have not been held since 2006, said it was not enough as the administration has not issued a definite timeline for the polls. Scuffles broke out between protesting students and paramilitary personnel during the day as security was beefed up and police personnel did not allow the students, who raised slogans against the administration, to enter the campus after the university had shifted classes across all courses to online mode in view of the protest. Four students had been on a hunger strike during the protest. "Our first demand was that student union elections should be revived, and dates for polls be declared," Rehan Khan, who is among the two continuing their indefinite hunger strike, said while questioning the absence of a deadline for the approval of the constitution. 

Addressing the press conference, representatives of NSUI, AISF, SFI, AIDSO, AISA and DISHA highlighted the students' demands and stressed the need for meaningful dialogue between the administration and the protesters. Those who addressed the gathering included academician Siddiquur Rahman Kidwai, educationist Syeda Hameed and Sameena Mishra, who is an alumna of JMI. Student representatives from the Students' Federation of India (SFI) questioned the role of the university's security adviser, alleging that the post was being used to monitor students involved in protests, and the chief proctor. The speakers also raised concerns over the deployment of security personnel at the university. In a statement issued after the gathering, the participants said students must have a representative platform to raise their concerns, participate in university affairs and engage meaningfully in campus governance. 

They also cautioned against attempts to divert attention from the core issues driving the movement, condemning what they described as divisive slogans and provocative messaging that shifted focus away from the students' demands. They called on the university administration to engage in transparent discussions and take concrete steps towards resolving the impasse. 

The administration had earlier announced the formation of a committee to draft the JMISU constitution and said disciplinary action initiated against students over protest-related issues would be reviewed. The university had shifted classes across all courses to online mode on October 24, citing concerns over students' safety and security amid escalating tensions at the protest site. The Congress alleged the entire college has been brought to a standstill due to the administration's "stubbornness" in dealing with this genuine demand. 

"We stand in solidarity with the students and urge the authorities to accede to their demands," Venugopal said in a post on X. An FIR was filed at Jamia Nagar police station on October 25 against Congress MPs Imran Masood and Imran Pratapgarhi along with others, accusing them of trespassing on the campus and inciting unrest, following a complaint by Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi. 

According to the complaint, Pratapgarhi allegedly entered the university campus on October 21 after breaking the lock of Gate No. 4A, while Masood entered on October 23 by scaling a boundary wall near Gafoor Nagar with the help of a ladder. The FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) dealing with criminal trespass, wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, mischief, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and common intention. Provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007, have also been invoked.