Watch: Jamia students seek reopening of campus, stage protests
Many students from Jamia Millia Islamia staged a protest right outside the campus on Wednesday, demanding the reopening of the university and the resumption of physical classes, as the university is still closed due to the pandemic situation.
As words spread in the campus, security was upped with Jamia Chief Proctor Dr Waseem Ahmad Khan turning up at the spot and interacted with the protesting students, who were demanding resumption of physical classes as soon as possible citing decrease in Covid cases.
Khan diffused the situation with students ending the stir. However, it is understood that students will be back on gate 7 again if the administration fails to take up any action regarding opening of the campus, said sources.
The protest was organised by class representatives and student organisations like AIRSO, AISA, AISF, CFI, DISSC, SFI and SIO, of Jamia.
Well before the protest, the university gates were completely blocked by the guards, police and even paramilitary forces, said the organiser of the protest.
Also, the students submitted a memorandum to the university administration putting forward their demands.
“Jamia Administration has neither taken any stand nor released any notification with regards to the reopening of the University. Through this, what we, the students of Jamia, understood is that the administration is not at all concerned about the needs of students,” it said.
“By keeping the campus closed, the university administration is completely depriving the students, their right to equal education. That’s why, we demand immediate reopening of the campus, including Central library and all departmental libraries, xerox points, canteens, hostels and internet facilities. If our demands are not accepted, the students will be organising massive campaigns, sit-in protests and class boycotts for reclaiming our campus. So, we are demanding you to accept our demands and immediately reopen Jamia,” said students in their memorandum.
