NEW DELHI: Amid ongoing student protests demanding the restoration of the students’ union, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) on Saturday announced that classes for all courses would be held online with immediate effect until further notice.The university, in a notice, said that the decision to shift classes online has been taken as a “precautionary measure” to ensure the safety and well-being of students.“All Deans/Heads/Directors and faculty members as well as all bonafide students are hereby directed to adhere to the online class schedule and ensure regular participation in academic activities. All faculty members are requested to make the necessary arrangements for conducting classes through online platforms and to provide students with the required academic support and learning materials,” the notice read.As this happened, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) alleged that the Jamia administration began “assaulting students” in the midst of negotiations.“The hunger strikers and the protest site are being attacked. This reveals the most brutal face of the Jamia administration,” AISA said in a press release.This comes as the hunger strike of five Jamia students continued for the 13th day on Saturday. The students have been demanding restoration of their students’ union (JMISU) while calling for the removal of the university’s Chief Proctor for “cracking down” on protesters.Jasim Ali Khan, who has been on a hunger strike since the protest began, accused the university administration of launching a “crackdown” and demanded the revocation of students’ suspensions.Anas, another student protester, demanded that the show-cause notices issued by the proctor and disciplinary committee be revoked. He said the protests would continue until the university restored the students’ union.Addressing the ongoing controversy over graffiti on the university campus showcasing the “Free Kashmir” slogan, Anas argued that a narrative was being peddled to disrupt this peaceful protest. Urging the university admin to probe the matter, he asserted that protesters were not involved.“A narrative is being peddled to (disrupt) the protest. We don’t know whether the (university) administration or someone is peddling this. This is a matter of investigation since the responsibility for the security of Jamia lies with the admin. You check the cameras to see who is writing (such slogans) and clear the matter. The protesters and (hunger) strikers are absolutely not involved in this. The protest has been peaceful since day one and will remain the same in future,” he told news agency ANI.Jamia students began their protest and hunger strike on October 12, demanding the restoration of the students’ union. In the initial days of the agitation, tensions escalated after Delhi Police attempted to remove protesters from the designated protest site on the university campus.The students’ union at Jamia was dissolved in March 2006.(With agency inputs)
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