New Delhi: Students at Jamia Millia Islamia have launched widespread demonstrations following a prolonged dispute over representative governance at the institution. The core grievance centers on the absence of student union elections, which have not been conducted at the university since 2006.
In an effort to pressure the administration into restoring the democratic process, a group of five students initiated an indefinite hunger strike at Ghalib Lawn on October 12. The situation escalated significantly on October 17 when participating protesters reported that university guards forcibly removed them from campus grounds.
In the wake of these confrontations, the university administration moved to suspend and rusticate several students involved in the demonstrations. These disciplinary actions have only served to fuel further campus unrest, drawing broader student backing as the standoff between the administration and the student body continues.