As the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students’ indefinite hunger strike against punishment imposed in connection with the February 9 event entered into 15 day, the JNU administration on Friday sent letters to students’ parents asking them to instruct their children to call off the strike.
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, a fasting student Shweta Raj, who was admitted to the AIIMS on Thursday 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”.
So far, 13 students, including JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, have withdrawn from the fast on health grounds while seven others are still on strike. While Umar and Anirban Bhattacharya had earlier this week moved to Delhi High Court challenging the punishment, eight more students approached the court on Friday.
The administration earlier on Thursday asked the students to call off the strike as the matter is now sub judice. The varsity had 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.