JNU dominated by various shades of Left politics since its inception has in recent years seen the Left-Right binary with RSS’ students’ wing ABVP making inroads. At this crucial juncture, the Congress’ student wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) is trying to gain foothold in the campus politics. The NSUI candidate for JNUSU president race, Prashant Kumar, a PhD scholar at Centre for Philosophy of School of Social Sciences, has made his poll planks the problems faced by non-English medium students, exorbitant fee structures for newly introduced courses and lack of hostel accommodation.
“I’m fighting the JNUSU polls on the plank of pro-student plank. I myself come from a Hindi-medium background and I know the impediments that students are facing when they enter JNU. There is no provision in the varsity to equip those students at par with the English-medium students,” he said.
On exorbitant fee structure in the newly introduced subjects like engineering, he said, “The fee structure of these subjects are so high that students from economically weaker sections can’t afford. JNU is known for its low fees and world class education system but the administration is hell bent destroying the premier institution.”
“There is no proper system of accommodation of in the university. The newly-inducted students had to stay at the claustrophobic dormitories. There are no facilities for the students to have hygiene foods either,” he said.
On a political scenario prevailing in the country, he said the incumbent BJP Government has given a bad name to our campus. The students, who are raising questions, have labelled us anti-nationals. He also raised questions on the abrogation of Article 370 and said. “The BJP Government has tried to manipulate with our Constitution which has been prepared by Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru,” he said.