Jamia students protest over disciplinary action against research scholars for last year’s demonstration

The disciplinary committee is scheduled to review the students’ role on February 25, but the university administration has yet to respond to the students’ demands — which they have described as an “attack on campus democracy”.

The Indian Express contacted university officials but did not receive any comment.

Protesters, led by Left-affiliated student organisations including AISA, are demanding the withdrawal of disciplinary actions, and an end to what they describe as a “crackdown on student activism.” Showing banners with slogans like “Dissent is the legacy of Jamia” and “Restore Campus Democracy,” they have accused the administration of suppressing their fundamental rights to assembly and expression.

On Tuesday, tensions escalated when AISA claimed its All-India President, Neha, was detained by the Delhi Police while she was standing in solidarity with the protesters.

However, the Delhi Police said the action against Neha was taken by the university. “As per the police, the Jamia administration has removed her and is also planning to file a complaint with us. It was the Jamia administration that brought her to the police station,” a police officer told The Indian Express.

In its statement Monday AISA said “The All India Students’ Association strongly condemns the Jamia Millia Islamia administration’s undemocratic and authoritarian actions against students commemorating the state-sponsored attack on Jamia on December 15, 2019. On December 16, students of Jamia gathered to peacefully remember the violent crackdown of 2019, only to be met with yet another attempt to suppress student voices.”