Jamia agrees to hold union polls, but protesting students remain unconvinced

Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi has reportedly agreed to hold students’ union elections following more than two weeks of protests on campus demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU).

According to reports, a university order dated October 26 states that elections will be held within 15 days of the approval of the students’ union constitution.

Jamia Registrar Prof. Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi arrived on campus around 4:30 am on Monday to hold talks with the protesting students. According to the Jammu & Kashmir Student Association (JKSA), Rizvi shared an official order issued by the university administration and urged the students to call off their agitation.

The order revoked suspension orders and show-cause notices issued to students during the protest. It also announced the formation of a committee to investigate the conduct of security personnel during the agitation.

Despite these measures, the protesting students said they would continue their agitation, arguing that the administration’s order remained ambiguous. They questioned the absence of a definite timeline for approving the union constitution and conducting the elections.

The students also pointed out that the order did not address their demand for the resignation of the university’s Proctor.

The protests began nearly two weeks ago, with students demanding the restoration of the JMISU and highlighting that elections have not been held since 2006. Four students have been on an indefinite hunger strike, while PhD scholar Sanam has been staging an indefinite sit-in at the Gulistan-e-Ghalib lawns on campus.

On Saturday, the university shifted classes across all courses to online mode, citing concerns over students’ safety and security amid escalating tensions at the protest site.

The move came after more than 1,500 teaching and non-teaching staff members, along with Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif and Registrar Rizvi, marched from the Ansari Auditorium lawns to Gate No. 7 in an attempt to persuade the protesting students to end their agitation.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Congress MPs Imran Masood and Imran Pratapgarhi, along with others, following a complaint by Jamia Millia Islamia accusing them of trespassing on campus and inciting unrest.