By Mahmood Asim, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: students of Jamia Hamdard, a deemed university in the capital, called off their long strike after authorities promised to meet some of their “genuine demands” on Friday.
Eight students of the university were sitting on hunger strike for 20 days, finally ended their strike on Friday after the assurance of the Vice Chancellor GN Qazi to deal with the matter in a just way.
A meeting of Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) consisting all deans and Proctor was also called to review the suspension of the students and to revoke the fine imposed upon them earlier.
Mufti iftekhar Ahmad, President of Hamdard Student Democratic Forum (HSDF) that had launched the agitation, told TwoCircles.net that although all their demands have not been immediately fulfilled, they administration has given assurances to look into the grievances of the students.
“Arif Sahab (Jamiat Ulema Delhi)and Ameeque Jamai (Tanzeem-e-Insaf on) met Vice chancellor on our behalf and he assured them to revoke the suspension and fine of all students, so we trust them and hope they will keep their promises,” he said.
Fine and suspension imposed ion many students for participating into another agitation two months ago have been revoked for now. At that time, authorities had promised 12 demands including basic hostel and health facility in writing, but later they refused to implement those demands and instead imposed fine and suspension upon the leaders of the strike.
But strikers are hopeful this time authorities will keep their promises although this time assurances are only oral. “In the history of Hamdard, this is first time when DAC was called to review its decision, we are hopeful and trust our vice chancellor to meet our demands,” Mufti told TCN.
“We understand that all our demands have not been met, but this is not the end of the struggle,” he added.
It should be mentioned here that Hamdard students in their strike found support from different student organizations including AISF, JNUSU, AMUSU, Jamia students’ Forum and others. Political and social support from Jamiat Ulema Hind and Delhi Minority Commission were also extended to the agitating students.
Dean of students’ welfare of the university Professor Ehsan Khan is a key member in DAC that was convened on to review the decision that is yet to be made public. When this reporter contacted Professor Khan regarding the decision of DAC, he refused to say anything. “I am sorry, I cannot talk about it and I am not authorized to talk to you regarding this matter, please talk to PRO,” Khan told TCN.
PRO, on the other hand, said that he is not part of the DAC and as the decision has not been made public, he too is not aware of it. “I am aware of calling off the strike and that the matter has been handed over to the competent authority to take the decision on the matter,” he told TCN, adding, “I am sure problem will be sorted out by competent authority but I am not aware of DAC decision regarding this till now.”