Hunger Strike and Their Demands

It has been eight days since the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) has been on an indefinite hunger strike, with many students fasting for a better and inclusive campus. Notably, JNU is a university of excellence in the country and has a vibrant student democracy, which has stood the test of time thanks to its students and student organisations, who have fought tooth and nail to preserve the inclusive and accessible nature of their campus, against the slew of assault by the university administration and BJP led Union government.

It is in furtherance of the same that the JNUSU began their hunger strike on August 12, 2024 seeking the university administration to fulfil their charter of demands, which includes the reinstatement of JNU Entrance Exam (JNUEE), to open Barak Hostel, to increase the means-cum-merit scholarship to Rs. 5,000/, to reinstate GSCASH, to conduct a caste census on campus, etc. These basic demands of students are not being heard.

While responding after seven days of the hunger fast, the Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit responded by delegitimising and disregarding the duly elected union and said that the JNUSU needs to be notified and for that, they can approach the High Court. During which time, several students on the indefinite hunger strike have taken ill. Moreover, while the demands for hostel allotment and increase in scholarship has fallen on deaf ears, the VC has declared that a guest house on campus will be sold! This is a step towards privatisation, which the students are opposing.

However, and despite all odds, JNUSU and students of JNU are continuing with their hunger strike with true grit. CPIML extends its solidarity with the students of JNU and calls upon the JNU administration to address the issued raised by the JNUSU.



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