By Mahmood Asim, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Facing several problems, including allotment of hostels and fee hike, scores of students of Jamia Hamdard held a protest demonstration shouting slogans in front of the vice chancellor’s office at Jamia Hamdard campus. On the second day, Monday, few students were taken to the police station too.
Students from the medicine, science and pharmacy faculty staged the demonstration together demanding reduction in fees and withdrawing of the order to vacate the hostels even before completion of the course on Monday.
According the sources in the student community, authorities at the Jamia Hamdard University, a deemed university, have issued an order to vacate Al Biruny UG Boys hostel till May 15, 2015 but the students are agitating citing the reason that the courses are not going to be completed before it. “So, how can one vacate the hostel? Where will one live?” students fumed and alleged further that the authorities have already decided to shut the boys hostel to allot it for girls and now they plan to evacuate the boys’ hostel so that it wouldn’t be allotted even in the next session.
Speaking to TwoCircles.net, a student pursuing BUMS last prof, who is just to start internship in Majeedia Hospital of the University, and is living in Al Biruny Hostel, said: “I have one year to complete my course and now we are served notice by the university authorities to vacate hostel till May 15.”
Adding to his comment, another student (name withheld on request) said: “This behavior of university is absolutely not fair and beside, we are to face increased fees every year”.
Students distributed hand bill to spread awareness appealing all students to join in their struggle. Students’ charter of demands includes several issues ranging from hostel for UG, PG and Ph D students, re-issueing health booklet and to provide gym and sport facilities for the students.
When students started the agitation, then Provost and Registrar assured them to sort out the matter with consultation in VC Dr G N Qazi but when protesters received no positive response from authorities, they went on strike again on Monday and said they will continue till their “genuine demands” were accepted by authorities.
Late in the evening, several students were taken in police custody in Ambedkar Nagar police station after which other student too started gathering in front of the police station.
Efforts to contact the university authorities proved futile as the phone of the registrar went unattended.