JNU V-C Pleads With Students to End 10-Day Hunger Strike

JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit met with protesting students on Wednesday, urging them to end their 10-day hunger strike over various demands, including increased scholarships and a caste census. Despite Pandit’s plea, students continue to protest, and several have required medical attention due to deteriorating health.

JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit met with students on Wednesday who are protesting against the university's alleged unresponsive stance on their demands, including an increase in scholarship amounts and conducting a caste census. Pandit urged the students to end their hunger strike, which has now entered its tenth day.

Students have been demanding a meeting with the V-C to discuss their charter of demands, which also includes lifting the ban on campus protests and withdrawing proctorial inquiries against protesters, since August 11. In a video, Pandit can be seen attempting to persuade the students to halt their strike.

Additionally, the V-C addressed the demand for withdrawing proctorial inquiries, explaining that she cannot override court decisions. Present at the protest site were Dean of Students Manuradha Chaudhary and Chief Medical Officer Fouzia Firdous Ozair. Due to deteriorating health, several students had to end their strike, with two needing urgent medical attention at AIIMS on Monday, though they refused treatment to continue their protest.

(With inputs from agencies.)