JNU students march to Parliament defying Section 144 imposed by the government

• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students march to the Parliament, ahead of winter session.
  
• Despite the partial rollback, students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have been protesting against the hostel fee hikes and curfew timings.
  
• The government has imposed section 144 near the parliament.

The JNU student protest might soon take a political turn as they are now marching to the Parliament — as the winter session is in progress. They want to appeal to the MPs to ‘save public education’.

The government imposed Section 144 near the Parliament and deployed nearly 700 security personnel outside the JNU campus — in anticipation of the protest.

Despite the partial fee rollback, students have been protesting over hostel fee and curfews. The student union claims that the institute’s decision to raise hostel, mess and security fee by 400% — is unfair.

"At a time when fee hikes are rampant across the country, students have emerged as the first line of defence for inclusive education. We invite all students of Delhi, to join us as we march on foot from JNU to Parliament on the first day of the winter session of Parliament," the JNUSU said.

But not many have been coming out in support of the protest. “There are 8,000 students in the university and at least 6,000 of them want to attend classes. But 200 or so students are not allowing them and have created an atmosphere of terror,” a JNU professor told the Times of India.

The agitation has forced the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) to form a three-member high powered committee to look into the matter.

The university administration hiked the hostel mess security fee from ₹5,500 to ₹12,000, adding a service charge worth ₹1,700. It also increased the charges of a single room from ₹20 to ₹600 per month and to ₹300 for a double bed room which is to be shared.

However last Thursday on November 14, the institution announced a partial rollback, reducing the charges for single room to ₹ 200 per month and ₹100 for a shared double room.

Added to this, hostel curfews and a dress code also did not resonate well with the students. The university mandated 11 pm curfew for hostel students.

See also:
JNU administration hikes the hostel, mess and security fee by close to 400%

JNU announces a partial rollback in hostel fee hikes amid massive protests

The hostel fee hike in JNU has become another flashpoint in Indian politics — both in the real world and the virtual