Page 24 - 31DEC2019E-4

judge of Supreme Court into the police brutality on referring to the police crackdown 15.
the Jamia students protesting peacefully against CAA. “The unfortunate is the university doesn’t have any
Speaking with Tehelka, Vani says, “If the Vice Chan- student union. We are protesting on our own. Even
cellor didn’t give permission to the Delhi police how if we form one, internal politics and vested interest
did they even enter? How can police forcefully enter of some students politically affiliated to any parties
into the premise and beat up students? This shows would damage the spirit of the student union,” adds
the criminal attitude of the police towards the society. Akhtar.
We have demanded that there should be a fair judicial Some girl students claimed that they have been
enquiry into this matter. asked to vacate hostels as the university does not
When asked about the next course of action by the want to get involved in the ongoing protests. They also
students, Vani replies, “The next course of action will alleged that they haven’t been given food also.
be decided accordingly whether we are going to the
High Court or not. The Supreme Court has said that A DAY TO REMEMBER
the petition should be filed at the High Court. We know Waseem Ahmed Khan, Chief Proctor, JMI University
from government to judiciary, everyone will support also confirmed that the police entered the campus
the police but the real picture of them is clear as the without any permission from the administration. “No
people have seen the videos and pictures where police permission was given to police, they entered the cam-
have shown their criminal nature. pus without the administration’s permission,” he said
Besides, senior advocates Indira Jaisingh and Col-
in Gonsalves have come forward in support of the
students. They have urged the Supreme Court to take
take suo motu cognisance of the violence on students,
especially in the case of Aligarh Muslim University.

What students think of it VC?
Following the police crackdown on Jamia students,
Najma Akhtar, Vice-Chancellor of the varsity came
out with a condemning video message. “I am hurt by
the way my students were treated. I want to let my
students know that they are not alone in this fight. I
am with them. I will take this matter forward as long
it’s possible.”
However, while speaking with Tehelka, many stu-
dents expressed that they “feel dejected” by Vice
Chancellor Najma Akhtar and staff members as well.
“Don’t go by the video. She is not in support of the stu-
dents,” replies Nikita when asked about the view of the
administration against the CAA protest and police
crackdown on its students.
Many students claimed that the VC is “hand
in gloves with the Delhi police”, otherwise they
(police) would have never set their foot on the premise.
“Look at the statements of our VC that keeps changing
every time. She is majorly responsibly for the police
atrocities on the Jamia students. Did she file a FIR? No,
right?” says a third year engineering student.
Another student claims that the staff members
were initially supporting the students in the protest
but later “withdrawn it because of internal pressure.”
Tehelka reached out to the VC for her comments but
didn’t receive any response until the time of filing this
story.
Students are also of the opinion that since there is
no formal student union in the university, this makes
certain situations difficult for the students, says Akhtar

24