Jamia Protest Day 15: Students Reject Election Notice, Continue Hunger Strike Over Unclear Timeline

The protest at Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi has entered its 15th day, with students continuing their hunger strike over demands for student union elections and other issues. In a major development, the university registrar’s office issued a written notification at around 4:30 a.m., stating that student union elections would be held within 15 days of the approval of the union’s constitution. However, the announcement has failed to resolve the standoff, as students are demanding a clear timeline for when the constitution will be approved. Student organisations, including the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), have reportedly rejected the notification and announced that their hunger strike will continue. Protesters allege that they were woken up at around 2:30 a.m. and pressured into signing the document during discussions with the university administration. According to the students, the assurances given during the meeting differed from the wording of the final notification. These allegations have not been independently verified. The students argue that without a definite deadline for approving the constitution, the promise of holding elections within 15 days does not provide sufficient clarity. A candle march was also held the previous night as students raised their demands against the university authorities. Meanwhile, the administration is seeking to end the protest amid concerns about disruption to academic activities. Security around the university has reportedly been tightened as tensions continue. The administration has also approached the Delhi Police, while an FIR has reportedly been registered against three MPs in connection with an alleged trespassing incident.