VC trying to coerce JNU community: Students respond to VC's appeal

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union called the Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagdesh Kumar's letter to his staff urging to maintain the academic atmosphere of the varsity as the students have "crossed every line of civil behaviour", a tactic to coerce the JNU community. The students are continuing their protest and have occupied the Freedom Square on campus. 

What the Higher Education Secretary, R Subrahmanyam called a "major roll-back" by the JNU administration and the MHRD, the students dismissed as nothing more than an eyewash. "No demands of the students have been accepted, and instead of initiating a dialogue, the administration has began to release thinly veiled threats to the teachers and students. The JNUSU reiterates that it shall carry the struggle forward while building larger solidarities within and beyond the university," said Saket Moon, the Vice-President of the JNUSU. 

The statement reflects the VC's dictatorial attitude, said JNUSU member Apeksha Priyadarshini, "What has made JNU renowned is its students, who have always fought for the rights of the marginalised alongside their studies. The fact that he can write letters full of lies and go on channels to defame his students but not find a minute in a day to actually meet the student representatives shows that he's not a VC of the students of this university but a stooge of the incumbent regime."

The students are continuously conducting discussions and meetings across the campus to discuss the ongoing protest and find a way to have their voice heard. Not just political students' organisations but queer collectives like Hasratein are also conducting discussions. The group is set to discuss the possibilities of student movements and the radical possibilities of queer politics at 5 pm in front of the administration block on campus.