The indefinite hunger strike started by students of JNU demanding withdrawal of the unjust and vindictive rustications and fines has entered its third week. As the health of the striking students continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate, the JNU administration far from being concerned about the health and academics of the students, has displayed brazen insensitivity but continuously threatening the striking the students.
The JNU Administration has served show cause notices to students who screened the documentary on Muzaffarnagar communal violence ‘Muzaffarnagar Baqi Hai’ several months back. In protest, students responded by screening the movie once again at the JNU Freedom Square and daring the administration to issue notices to the entire campus.
On the 7th day of the hunger strike, the JNU administration issued a notice accusing the hunger strike of being ‘unlawful’ and unconstitutional. A day later, the JNU administration once again warned students against using the public address equipment. It may be noted that the JNU administration realised the disturbance caused by the microphones only after the ABVP students, who for days had been trying their best to obstruct solidarity programmes organised by JNUSU by playing loud music on speakers, had decided to call off their farcical strike. Even as JNU alumni announced their intention to join on a relay hunger strike for a day, the JNU registrar warned the students against inviting ‘outsiders’ to the campus. However, in a befitting response to such intimidating tactics of the administration, hundreds of JNU alumni and non JNUites who have stood in solidarity with struggling students of JNU assembled at Ganga Dhaba on 7th May, formed a massive human chain and marched till Freedom square where the indefinite hunger strike was going on.
Addressing the students, Com. Anant (AISA leader and ex JNUSU VP), who had returned after being admitted to AIIMS for chest pain on the 11th day of the hunger strike, said that this administration cannot break their resolve. Com. Rama, current JNUSU GS, also on the 11th day of his hunger strike said that this government thrived on creating binaries like nationals- anti-nationals, insiders-outsiders, but anyone who is with the oppressing masses of this country is an insider in JNU. The real outsiders are those, who ignoring the demands of JNU students are instead taking orders from Nagpur.
Though, the deteriorating health conditions may have forced a few students to discontinue the struggle, they nonetheless continue to remain in struggle and strengthen it.
Over the days, the striking students have received support from several quarters. JNU teachers’ association has been consistent in its support for the students and have also joined the relay strike, with teachers taking turns to sit on relay hunger strike with the students. JNU alumni and several other cultural, political and social activists have joined the students at the Freedom Square to express their solidarity and also perform cultural programmes. On 8th May, when mother’s day was being celebrated, several mothers and grandmothers decided to join the striking students on a relay hunger strike, under the banner – ‘Mothers with JNU’. Delhi University teachers’ Association too has expressed solidarity with striking students and their representatives met the students at freedom square in JNU.
The support and solidarity for JNU students has poured in from all parts of the country. Protests opposing the punishment meted out to JNU students have been staged in Tenali (Andhra Pradesh), Gohana (Sonepat, Haryana), Jadavpur University, Allahabad University, and several other universities. In several universities, student and youth have sat on solidarity hunger strikes. In Jharkhand, AISA activists burnt the copies of HLEC at Albert Ekka Chowk. RYA and AISA activists also sat on solidarity hunger strikes in Dhanbad and Giridih. In Giridih, they were joined in their one day solidarity hunger strike by ex MLA and CPI (ML) leader, Com. Vinod Singh.
In Bihar, AISA activists joined solidarity hunger strikes in Begusarai and Patna. AISA and RYA activists together with AISF, SFI, AIDSO, and other groups also organised a rail roko (blockade of railways) in Patna, Bhojpur, Darbhanga, Nawada, Samastipur, Gopalganj, and other areas in solidarity with JNU students. CPI (ML) General Secretary, Com. Dipankar also met the striking hunger striking students in JNU and expressed his solidarity. Addressing the students, he said that the struggle of JNU had students had created a stir in the entire country. The country is witnessing a new youth upsurge. If there was an Arab Spring, then a new youth spring had also emerged from the Freedom Square here and this spring was determined to reach its destination. Far from conspiring to break the country, the students of JNU through their struggles had worked to unite the people of this country. He said he felt recharged after meeting the determined students.
Villagers of Comrade Chintu Kumari’s village Kaulodhri in Bhojpur, Bihar held a dharna in support of the hunger striking JNU students at the Collector’s office and sent a memorandum to the President through the Collector.
At present, Com. Rama Naga, Com. Shweta Raj, Com. Chintu, Com. Anant, Com. Pankhuri, Com. Fayaz, Com. Sarboni, Com. Anand, Com. Birendra, Com. Suresh are entering the third week of their indefinite hunger strike, even as more comrades join to strengthen the struggle.
