New Delhi, October 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Jamia Millia Islamia Registrar Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi on Saturday said students observing a hunger strike for the 13th consecutive day had refused to end their protest despite assurances that students’ union elections would be held after the submission of a draft constitution prepared by a committee comprising students.
Several students have been staging the hunger strike, demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) and the removal of the university’s Chief Proctor over what they have described as a crackdown on protesters.
Speaking to reporters, Rizvi said he had held discussions with the protesting students for around 20 to 25 minutes and assured them that the university was willing to proceed with the election process once the draft constitution was submitted.
“Their demand was that union elections be held. We informed them that a draft committee had been formed to prepare the constitution. They then asked us to give them a deadline. We told them that the sooner they prepared the draft constitution, the sooner we would hold the elections,” Rizvi said.
He added that the students themselves had proposed preparing the draft constitution through a committee that would include their representatives.
“I told them, ‘You yourselves have said that you will prepare the draft constitution, and members of your committee will also be included. Once you submit the draft, we will announce the elections,’” the registrar said.
Rizvi said the students had also raised concerns over disciplinary action taken against some protesters. He said the university had assured them that the cases would be reviewed and referred to the Disciplinary Committee.
According to the registrar, disciplinary action would be revoked in cases where students were found innocent after the review.
However, he said the students remained dissatisfied and rejected the assurances offered by the university administration.
Rizvi also claimed that some people who were not students of the university had entered the campus illegally through a back gate, increasing the size of the gathering. He maintained that the number of protesting students had otherwise been smaller.
The registrar separately condemned graffiti reading “Free Kashmir” found on the university walls, saying the administration would not support such acts under any circumstances.
Meanwhile, Jamia Millia Islamia announced on Saturday that classes for all courses would be conducted online with immediate effect until further notice as a precautionary measure amid the ongoing agitation.
In an official statement, the university said the decision had been taken to ensure the safety and security of students on campus in view of the prevailing situation.
The university said the online arrangement would remain in force until further notice.
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