New Delhi: RJD Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Yadav has urged Jamia Millia Islamia Vice-Chancellor to restore the students' union and withdraw disciplinary action against protesting students, as an agitation continues on the campus.
Jamia has not had an elected students' union since 2006; the last elections were held in 2005.
Students began an indefinite hunger strike on October 12, demanding the union's restoration and raising concerns over academic facilities, attendance, hostels, scholarships and research stipends.
In a letter to Vice-Chancellor Professor Mazhar Asif, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP called for a transparent, time-bound roadmap for holding elections; the withdrawal of disciplinary orders and campus restrictions imposed on protesters; and immediate dialogue with students.
"An elected students' union is not a privilege; it is an essential platform for democratic representation, academic freedom, nation building and responsible leadership," he said.
Citing Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University, where students' union elections are held in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, Yadav said Jamia could adopt an appropriate framework to restore the union.
He also urged the administration to ensure medical care and protection for students on hunger strike, saying the situation required sensitivity and dialogue. "Peaceful dissent should be addressed through democratic engagement, not punitive measures," he said.
Yadav said Jamia, founded during the Non-Cooperation Movement, had a responsibility to uphold democratic values and provide students with a platform for representation.