JNU VC terms hunger strike by students 'unlawful', calls for discussion

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar on Wednesday dubbed the hunger strike by the students as 'unlawful' and called for a discussion, urging them to immediately call off the strike.

In a statement, the vice-chancellor stated that the college administration was greatly concerned over the worsening health condition of the students who are on hunger strike.

It appealed to the students to be mindful of their health in view of the extreme heat conditions in the national capital.

The administration further urged the students to use constitutional means to put forth their demands, if any, as it believed in dialogue and discussion to resolve any issue affecting functioning of the university.

Terming the JNU administration as 'highly insensitive', the Jawaharlal Nehru Students' Union (JNUSU) earlier today issued a statement saying that its president Kanhaiya Kumar's health condition was getting worse and he was getting unconscious at times.

The statement further stated that Kanhaiya had already lost 6 kgs and his blood pressure was critically low and other health parameters were also not normal.

"Already three students had to discontinue the strike. The other students on strike are also extremely unwell. We are worried for all of them," it stated.

Two groups of students are sitting on indefinite hunger strike since April 27, in protest against the punishment announced by the university against various students in connection with the controversial event on campus during which 'anti-national' slogans were allegedly raised.

JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested in a sedition case in connection with the event. They are out on bail now.

While Kanhaiya has been slapped with a penalty of Rs. 10,000 on grounds of 'indiscipline and misconduct', Umar, Anirban and Kashmiri student Mujeeb Gatoo have been rusticated for varying durations.

Financial penalty has been imposed on 14 students. Hostel facilities of two students have been withdrawn and the university has declared the campus out of bounds for two former students.