Congratulations to the students of Jamia Millia Islamia on their historic victory in the struggle for the restoration of an elected students’ union after 20 years. The victory is a testament to the courage, unity and determination of the student community, which refused to give up its democratic rights despite sustained administrative intimidation and police repression.
The administration's response to the students' democratic demands was marked by repression. During the protest, students on hunger strike were forcibly evicted from the protest site on October 17, with police and paramilitary forces deployed on campus. Students were beaten, manhandled, harassed and dragged out before being handed over to the Delhi Police. All campus gates were shut and the campus was sealed off in an attempt to prevent the movement from continuing. Facing this crackdown, the students refused to retreat. They re-entered the campus through Gate 7 and resumed their sit-in, determined to carry forward their struggle.
After 18 days of hunger strike and sustained mobilisation across the campus, the students stood firm and refused to settle for vague assurances. Their determined struggle has secured a concrete timeline for the restoration of the students’ union and a commitment from the administration to revoke disciplinary actions against protesting students.
This victory marks an important moment in the continuing struggle for democratic rights in educational institutions. The right to organise, elect representatives and raise collective demands is fundamental to campus democracy. The Jamia students have demonstrated that sustained collective action and student unity can challenge administrative high-handedness and win concrete democratic gains.
CPI(ML) Liberation salutes the fighting spirit of the Jamia students and their unwavering determination.
