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

• People across social media platforms were unilaterally supporting the student protest against Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
  
• However, after the act of defamation of Swami Vivekananda statue the social media outrage has shown the other side to the hostel fee hikes at the university.
  
• JNU’s revised hostel fees is at least one-fifth of the charges across premier Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) in Delhi and Mumbai, according to an ET report.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students who are protesting against hostel fee hikes were receiving a lot of support from the social media. However, the narrative took an about-turn after students defaced Swami Vivekananda statue along with the admin block of the university even after the fees were partially rolled back.


After that, a lot of social media users are pointing out to many issues around the key reasons for the protest — revision on hostel fees. The university revised the fee after 14 years. This is the longest gap in hostel fee revision among the top central universities in India. In spite of the increase, it is at least one-fifth of the charges across premier Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) in Delhi and Mumbai.

“How are the protests against fee-hikes justified?” said a Twitter user.


The revised hostel fee for JNU students, after the partial rollback is at ₹3,600 per year and ₹1,800 for students belonging to below-poverty line sections. On the other hand, the annual hostel charges across IIT Delhi and Mumbai campuses range between ₹15,000 and ₹20,000.

While some people are supporting the outrage, others are agitated by the overhaul. “Students should give written undertakings that they will not participate in strikes/protests,” said another user.


The move raised questions on nationalism and human rights violation as well. In a recent move, a few agitating students of the varsity occupied the administration block, defaced almost every wall of the block with graffiti against the JNU administration and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The students allegedly defacing the statue of Swami Vivekananda, which is yet to be inaugurated.



However, the student protests are expected to intensify in the next few days, as per IANS. "We will intensify the protests and have given a call to the whole university to join in," said JNU Students Union General Secretary Satish Chandra Yadav.

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

JNU students intensify protest on fee hikes, deface the varsity's admin block