A section of students of Jawaharlal Nehru University have been on an indefinite hunger strike since April 1, protesting against the university administration's alleged inaction in a sexual harassment complaint.
What's their complaint?
A female student of JNU alleged that she was sexually harassed on the night of March 31 on the campus by four people, including two former students. The university administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The complainant, however, has claimed that the "perpetrators" of the crime were roaming around freely.
A section of students, along with the victim, are sitting on strike at the varsity's main gate demanding the four students be declared out-of-bounds and their registration be cancelled.
What has the administration done so far?
JNU administration has ordered a probe into the incident. It had also declared the two former students out-of-bound on April 1 and initiated an inquiry into the matter, Chief Proctor Sudhir Kumar had told PTI.
On Thursday, the varsity administration issued proctorial inquiry notice to 21 students, including the victim and JNUSU president Dhananjay, for blocking the main entrance gate of the campus.
JNU vice-chancellor Santishree D. Pandit, yesterday, met the protesting students and asked them to shift their protest to the Sabarmati Lawns, saying it was causing inconvenience to people. “I have assured them that action will be taken in the case as per rules once they have cleared the site," Pandit told PTI.
Did JNU V-C threaten the protesting students?
The protesting students, however, released a video of the vice-chancellor talking to them at the protest site and alleged that they were "threatened" to clear the site. In a statement, the protesting students said, "We are deeply troubled by the recent actions of the vice-chancellor of JNU. Instead of addressing the issue of sexual harassment with empathy, she has resorted to threats and rude behaviour towards the victim."
"It's appalling that she would choose to attack the victim's career and those in solidarity, rather than offering support and seeking justice."
In the video, Pandit can be purportedly heard saying, "I will give you a day's time to resolve this, okay? I hope you realise who I am. If you don't realise it when you get up you will realise. You are all good children I don't want your future to be ruined.
"You can sit at Sabarmati Lawns. The moment you open this gate your issue will be resolved, this is my promise to you," the VC can be heard saying in the video.
Film shooting row
Meanwhile, the shooting of a web series on the 'Emergency period in India' in the campus was disrupted by the varsity's students' union on Saturday, even as the administration said that it has granted permission for the shooting to take place on campus premises.
The JNUSU objected to the shooting of the web series on campus at the administration block, terming it as "commercialisation" of the university space and demanded to know why permission was granted to film at the administration block when students are barred from protesting at the site.
In an email to Pandit, the students union demanded to know why the shooting was allowed within 100 metre radius of the administration block while the students are barred from entering the space to stage protests.
The students' body demanded to know why the team was granted permission to gather students for shooting, claiming that it was involving students in the shooting of the web series.
The students body also demanded to know details of the monetary transaction with the administration for the shooting.
(With PTI inputs)
