JNU students on indefinite sit-in

NEW DELHI: JNU students are gearing up for another standoff with the administration as their union today started an indefinite sit-in against the varsity’s decision to not allow protests on the campus.

The administration, through two letters dated November 3 and 28, had asked the president of the students’ body not to organise any meeting or demonstration at the administrative block.

“But it has come to the notice of the administration that you are going to hold a protest at administrative block. You are once again advised not to hold the above mentioned activity near the administrative block, otherwise necessary disciplinary action will be taken as per university rules,” the letter read.

Protest and demonstration at the administrative block is an old tradition on the campus. The administration has, however, cautioned the JNUSU against staging protests, saying it had received complaints from residents and staff.

The JNUSU on Wednesday not only staged a protest on the issue of the missing first year MSC student Najeeb Ahmed at the administrative block, it also started an indefinite sitin strike.

“The university is not ready to listen to us. We have no option left but to protest? What we are demanding is a fair probe into Najeeb’s matter. Not only the university did not acknowledge in any of its reports that Najeeb was assaulted, but has been insensitive toward the issue,” JNUSU President Mohit Kumar Pandey said.

The university administration, however, said it has taken all steps possible to find Najeeb, who had gone missing from the campus on October 15, and also cooperated with the police in investigation. “These are completely false allegations. The university had issued notices to those students who allegedly assaulted Najeeb.