Jamia students have won; fascists bent before student power: Congress

With the Jamia Millia Islamia on Thursday approving the implementation of the university's students' union constitution, the Congress said students have "won" and "fascists" had to bend before student power. Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has approved the implementation of the university's students' union constitution, setting May 15, 2027, as the deadline for its completion, and directed the protesting students to immediately call off their agitation. In an order dated October 29, the university said the competent authority had considered a request letter submitted by the students the same day and issued directions regarding the implementation of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union's (JMISU) constitution, conduct of elections and withdrawal of disciplinary action against the protesters.

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In a post on X, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said, "The students of Jamia Millia Islamia Central University have won!" "In the end, the fascists had to bend before student power. Democracy was hard-fought but was won eventually!" he said. The BJP-controlled administration tried every method to divide and defame the students, Venugopal alleged, adding that they even went to the extent of sending NSUI leaders to Tihar Jail for protesting. "We salute the students for their non-violent struggle; this should serve as a bitter lesson for those who try to suppress the youth's voice. Jai Hind!" he said.

The university said it would notify the schedule for student elections in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines laid down by the Lyngdoh Committee on student elections after the approval of the constitution. The elections will be conducted within six weeks of the start of the next academic session, which is approximately six weeks from July 16, 2027, the order said. It also said that all ongoing show-cause notices, disciplinary inquiries, rustication and suspensions, as well as campus bans issued over the protest should be revoked. "In view of the above, the protesting students shall call off their protest/hunger strike with immediate effect," the order said.

Jamia protest highlights

The development comes after a prolonged protest that began on October 12, with students demanding the restoration of the JMISU and the announcement of a definite timeline for student union elections. The agitation, which included a hunger strike, continued amid a standoff with the university administration, even as the protesters pressed for the restoration of an elected representative body after nearly two decades without union polls.