Congress backs Jamia protest, Rahul set to visit varsity

New Delhi: Ahead of party leader Rahul Gandhi’s expected visit to the Jamia protest site, the Congress said on Wednesday, October 28, that it stood in solidarity with the students, who have been protesting for 17 days seeking the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU).

Congress media and publicity department head Pawna Khera said Jamia students have had to protest for over two weeks in 21st-century India to demand their fundamental freedom to form an elected students’ union, guaranteed under Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution, which is a damning commentary on the state of democracy in our country, especially from the perspective of youth.

“The administration even attempted to discredit and defame the protests by planting the narrative of ‘Islamist’ sloganeering. But when students demanded that CCTV footage be handed over to the police to identify the culprits, the administration backtracked,” he said on X.

That students of Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, have had to protest for over two weeks in 21st-century India to demand their fundamental freedom to form an elected students union, guaranteed under Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution, is a damning commentary on the state of…

— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 ಪವನ್ ಖೇರಾ (@Pawankhera) October 28, 2026

The Congress MP said, “The right to form a students’ union is essential to the realisation of the slogan ‘educate, agitate, organise’ given by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. The students of Jamia, like students across the country, are entitled to this right, and we stand in solidarity with their struggle.”

University alleges students forcibly entered campus

Amid the ongoing standoff, university officials on Wednesday shared visuals of broken windows and alleged that students had forcibly entered parts of the campus, damaging surveillance cameras and other university property. The officials, however, did not clarify what action they are taking in connection with the alleged damage.

The agitation and hunger strike continued despite the university issuing an order on Monday stating that students’ union elections would be held within 15 days of the approval of the union’s constitution. The order also revoked suspension and show-cause notices issued to students during the protest. It also set up a committee to enquire into the conduct of security staff during the agitation.

Students insist on definite date for polls

However, the students said the decision fell short of their demands, questioning the absence of a deadline for approving the constitution. The protesting students have maintained that the administration must announce a definite date for the polls, which have not been held since 2006, and set a timeline for approving the union’s constitution.

“Our first demand was that student union elections should be revived, and dates for polls be declared,” Rehan Khan, one of the students on an indefinite hunger strike, said on Monday.

Four students have been on an indefinite hunger strike over the issue, the students’ body said.

Amid escalating tensions at the protest site, Jamia shifted all classes to online mode on October 24, citing concerns about students’ safety and security.

Following a complaint by Jamia Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, the Delhi Police registered an FIR at Jamia Nagar police station on October 25 against Congress MPs Imran Masood and Imran Pratapgarhi for alleged unauthorised entry into the campus.

According to the complaint, Pratapgarhi allegedly entered the university campus on October 21 after breaking the lock of gate number 4A, while Masood entered on October 23 by scaling a boundary wall near Gafoor Nagar with the help of a ladder. The complaint also mentions the visit of Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi, who was detained while on his way to the campus.

With PTI inputs

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.