Students of Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University on Friday night called off their hunger strike hours after the High Court stayed the disciplinary action taken against them for the February 9 events on campus. The court had warned the students that the protection it had granted them was conditional – it would apply only if they ended their agitation. The court had also barred the students from starting further protests until the legal issue gets resolved. The strike lasted 16 days.
“Following the court order, we have decided to call off the strike but our fight will continue till the vice chancellor revokes the punishments,” JNU Students' Union Vice President Shehla Rashid Shora told the Hindustan Times.
The university had fined JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar Rs 10,000 and suspended the others for varying periods of time following an inquiry panel’s report on events that led to Kumar's arrest in February. Student leaders Umar Khalid and Bhattacharya were also arrested on charges of sedition after they reportedly shouted "anti-national" slogans at an event organised protesting the hanging of Parliament attacks convict Afzal Guru.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!