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Jawaharlal Nehru University students are strengthening their movement of boycotting Compulsory Attendance System imposed in the varsity. A mass sit-in was mobilized today, February 15, at the Admin Bloc which the administration under VC Jagadesh Kumar had gotten into ‘banned zone’ for protesters.
Image Courtesy: Noushad Mk
Hundreds of students have gathered at the ‘freedom square’ demanding that the VC talk to them. The JNU Students Union has continuously been trying to communicate to the VCs office for a meeting with the students. There has been no response however. Students have decided to not allow VC to leave ad Bloc until he talks to students.
Image Courtesy: Noushad Mk
The union received a notice from the registrar’s office calling the protest “seizure of the admin building by unlawful methods”.
The Union replied with:
The VC has agreed to meet the Union if only the protesters return to their respective classes and labs. But the students have refused to back down till the VC comes out of his pod and addresses their grievances.
"Sir, no going back to classes and labs. We will write our thesis/dissertation from here only."JNUSU General Secretary DuggiralaSrikrishna said.
JNU students and administration have been at loggerheads ever since the University last month reversed the age old tradition of no attendance policy and imposed a compulsory attendance system. Since then, over 7000 students of the varsity have been collectively boycotting the imposition. Teachers too are refusing to mark attendance.
Ever since Jagadesh Kumar Mamidala was appointed in JNU as the Vice Chancellor, the varsity’s democratic values and academic structures have been under constant attack. Kumar is accused by students and teachers of the University of imposing polices drafted by RSS and BJP to the curb the academic and democratic spaces, and ultimately privatize the university.
From drastic seat cuts, funds cuts, collapse of reservation in admissions and corruption in faculty appointments; the future of varsity students has constantly being played with. The compulsory attendance has acted as the last straw.
Over the past week, students have held various forms of protest, from massive human chain to strikes, marches and a mass sit-in today. Students joined in large numbers as art too was used protest against the VC’s ‘dictatorial farmaan’
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