SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding the ongoing suppression of student protests at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University. The association urged Gandhi to address the issue with the government in public forums and Parliament.
The JKSA, through National Convenor Nasir Khuehami, detailed the escalating crackdown on students protesting against administrative actions. Protests began on December 15, 2024, commemorating the brutal 2019 police crackdown during the anti-CAA movement. The administration responded by banning student activities and shutting down facilities. Despite these restrictions, peaceful demonstrations continued.
According to the JKSA, show-cause notices were issued to several PhD scholars. “Instead of engaging in dialogue, the administration escalated its crackdown,” the association stated. On February 13, police and university security detained over 17 students, holding them for 12 hours. Students were allegedly assaulted, with female students facing particularly egregious violence. The administration also cut off electricity and locked washrooms.
The JKSA further detailed that the administration issued an order banning protests and slogans against constitutional dignitaries, threatening disciplinary action. The Association noted, “The repression of student activism at Jamia Millia Islamia is not new.” In 2022, a memorandum required prior permission for gatherings of more than five students, effectively imposing restrictions on campus. The association mentioned that this memorandum has suppressed various forms of student engagement.
The administration escalated tactics by publicly posting notices with personal information of 17 protesters, including their names, photos, and addresses. The JKSA called this an “outrageous act of public shaming,” emphasizing the violation of privacy and potential for harm.
“Jamia Millia Islamia today bears the unmistakable marks of a securitized campus,” the association asserted. The presence of police and surveillance structures has become a permanent fixture. The JKSA said, “The administration is systematically eroding Jamia’s legacy as a bastion of democratic thought and dissent.”
The JKSA emphasized that the crackdown represents a broader attack on student rights and academic freedom. “Treating students as criminals, intimidating them into silence, and using coercive tactics to stifle dissent is an affront to democracy,” the Association stated.
Highlighting Jamia’s history of resistance, the JKSA called for Gandhi’s intervention. Khuehami urged Rahul Gandhi to “take a firm stand against this institutional oppression” and demand an inquiry. The JKSA called for the protection of the university from police intervention. They concluded, “His support will not only safeguard Jamia’s democratic spirit but also protect the fundamental rights of students across the country.” The JKSA asked Rahul Gandhi to demand the withdrawal of unjust disciplinary actions, revocation of restrictive orders, and restoration of students’ right to peaceful assembly.