NEW DELHI, Feb 15: The Left-aligned All India Students’ Association (AISA) has announced a boycott of classes at Jamia Millia Islamia on Monday, contending that 17 students have been suspended for protesting the disciplinary measures taken against two PhD scholars.
The university has not yet responded to the allegations regarding the students’ suspensions.
The situation escalated after the university’s decision to suspend two PhD scholars, who were accused of leading an unauthorized protest in December. The administration justified its actions by stating the protests disrupted academic activities and resulted in damage to property, including vandalism at the central canteen and damage to the security advisor’s office gate.
Student activists, however, contend that the administration’s actions aim to suppress dissent.
This action from Jamia sparked outrage, with reports of multiple students receiving suspension notices for their alleged involvement in “vandalism, unauthorized protests, and defamation of the institution.”
AISA claims 17 students were suspended overnight, triggering a boycott declaration from students across various departments.
Support has been expressed by students from Sociology, Social Science, Geography, Hindi, Social Work, Spanish and Latin American Studies, French and Francophone Studies, Korean Language, and the Center for Culture and Media and Governance, according to the student body’s statement.
AISA emphasized, “You can suspend students, but you cannot suspend resistance.”
A disciplinary committee is scheduled to convene on February 25 to evaluate the involvement of the two scholars in organizing “Jamia Resistance Day” on December 15, 2024, which commemorates the 2019 protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The protesters are demanding the reversal of disciplinary actions, the repeal of a 2020 Office Memorandum that limits campus protests, the elimination of a Rs 50,000 fine for graffiti and posters, and guarantees that students will not face penalties for taking part in demonstrations.
Some students have alleged that restrictions on activism have tightened since Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif took office in October 2024.
AISA member Arpan noted, “In 2023, we marked Resistance Day without any consequences for students. However, in 2024, show-cause notices and inquiries were initiated.” (PTI)
