JNU Sexual Harassment Case: JNUSU to hold strike on April 16 if VC fails to address concerns

NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) has called for a strike on April 16 if the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor fails to address the concerns put forward by the students. The demands highlighted by the JNISU include conducting JNUEE for PhD admission, implementation of Nafey committee recommendations, re-introducing union fees among others. JNUSU has also demanded for immediate measures to safeguard the students' safety and welfare, following the JNU sexual harassment case.

A female student from JNU has accused two former students, along with two others, of sexually harassing her on March 31 night within the campus premises. In response, the university administration has initiated an inquiry into the matter. The complainant has expressed concern, alleging that the "perpetrators" of the crime were roaming around freely.

The JNUSU recently issued a press release expressing unity within the JNU community and opposing a concerning instance of sexual harassment that was alleged to be perpetrated by individuals associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. (ABVP). The student union mentioned that the office of chief proctor was compelled to open on March 31, Sunday, in order to register the survivor's complaint after receiving pressure from the JNUSU.

Also read JNU sexual harassment case: VC asks students to shift their protest from campus main gate

'Risk to survivor's safety'

According to JNUSU, the situation becomes even more concerning due to the evident disregard for the survivor's safety. Despite a restraining order, the perpetrators persist in threatening her. This continuous intimidation poses a serious risk to her welfare and further amplifies the trauma she has experienced.

"I met the students today to appeal to them that they should shift their protest from the entrance gate to Sabarmati Lawns which is the designated area to hold protests on campus. "The obstruction is causing inconvenience to students and staffers as buses are not able to enter the campus. I have assured them that action will be taken in the case as per rules once they have cleared the site," JNU VC, Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit told PTI.

JNUSU finds the response from VC equally distressing. As instead of ensuring a prompt and impartial investigation, they think the VC has allegedly resorted to intimidation tactics against the survivor and her supporters.

Demands of JNUSU

JNUSU has put forward the following demands in front of JNU

• Opening of Barak hostel
• Simplification of fellowship claims
• Ensuring campus accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
• Reinstating the Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH)
• Addressing infrastructure and hostel allotment concerns
• Scrapping the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in favor of reinstating GSCASH
• Increasing the MCM from Rs 2,000 to at least Rs 5,000
• Restoring the MANF scholarship
• Opposing CUET for UG and PG admissions
• Advocating for holding JNUEE for PhD admissions
• Implementing Nafey Committee recommendations to reduce viva weightage
• Reintroducing deprivation points in PhD admissions.