CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: New Delhi. Amid the ongoing movement demanding the restoration of student union elections at Jamia Millia Islamia University, members of the university’s founder families, alumni and student organisations have extended support to the protesting students. At a joint press conference held in Delhi on October 26, speakers questioned the functioning of the university administration, security arrangements on the campus and alleged action against protesters. Student representatives described the situation on the campus as “jail-like” and demanded that the administration resolve the dispute through dialogue.
Founder families support students At the press conference, members of the university’s founder families, including Syeda Hameed and Siddiqur Rahman Kidwai, supported the demand for the restoration of the student union. Referring to the educational vision of Jamia’s founders, Syeda Hameed said the students were trying to carry forward the university’s tradition in which youth participation and education were valued. Siddiqur Rahman Kidwai described a student union as necessary for universities in independent India and appealed for consideration of the students’ demands. Alumna Samina Mishra also said the present dispute could be resolved through dialogue and by listening to the students.
Serious allegations against administration Sanam, a representative of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) who attended the press conference, alleged that actions during the protest, including issues over the availability of electricity and water on the campus, removal of tents and closure of gates, had increased the students’ difficulties. She also alleged that police were reaching protesters’ homes because their personal information had been shared. These allegations have been made by student representatives and cannot be treated as independently verified facts.
Dispute over election timeline The university administration had issued an order on October 26 stating that elections would be held 15 days after the student union constitution is approved. The administration had also said it would withdraw suspensions and show-cause notices issued during the protest and form a committee to examine the role of security personnel. However, the protesting students described this arrangement as inadequate. They said that because the date for approving the constitution was not clear, no definite timeline for elections had been fixed. In this situation, the restoration of the student union and dialogue with the administration remain the main issues in the dispute.
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