Instruct wards to call off hunger strike: JNU to parents

The JNU administration has sent letters to parents of the students who are on an indefinite hunger strike against punishment imposed in connection with the February 9 event, asking them to instruct their wards to call off the fast.
Meanwhile, members of 40 women's rights and human welfare organisations have written to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking revocation of punishment to students in connection with the controversial event during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.
Reacting to the letter sent to parents, fasting student Shweta Raj, who was admitted to AIIMS yesterday after her health deteriorated, said, "If the administration has courage it should talk to us and not scare our parents by sending them intimidating letters. We are adults and conscious activists".

The strike by students entered the 15th day today. So far, 13 students, including JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, have withdrawn from the fast while 7 others are still continuing with the strike.
While Umar and Anirban Bhattacharya had earlier this week moved Delhi High Court challenging the punishment, eight more students approached the court today over the issue.
The administration had yesterday appealed the students to call off the strike as the matter is now sub-judice.

The varsity had earlier this week formed a four-member committee to look into demands of agitating students, however, the panel may take a back seat after the students moving court.

Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban were arrested in February in a sedition case over the event and are out on bail now.
While Kanhaiya has been slapped with a penalty of Rs 10,000, Umar, Anirban and a Kashmiri student, Mujeeb Gatoo, have been rusticated for varying durations.
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The organisations, which are signatory to the petition sent to the President, include All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA), All India Lawyers Union (AILU), All India Tanzeem-e-insaaf, All India Union of forest working people, Aman Biradari, Anhad, Citymakers Mission International, Delhi Asangathit Nirman Mazdoor Union (DANMU), Delhi Solidarity Group and Democratic Teachers' Front among others.

"We the undersigned are deeply distressed by the openly vindictive, unlawful and unjust attempts by JNU administration, to suppress dissenting perspectives by university students.
"We urge you in your capacity as the head of the Indian nation as well as Visitor to the university to kindly intercede with utmost urgency to annul the enquiry report and the unlawful and unjust punishments awarded by the JNU administration," the petition said.