Jamia Student Union Election Protest : The ongoing protest demanding student union elections at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi has now turned into a political controversy. The issue escalated after allegedly objectionable slogans were written on university walls. The university administration condemned the incident and said action would be taken after identifying those responsible. Meanwhile, protesting students have alleged that the controversy is being used to divert attention from their demand for student union elections. Reactions from leaders of the BJP, Congress, ABVP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad have further brought the issue into the spotlight.

Students Put Forward Three Major Demands
Students are protesting under the banner of United Students of Jamia, demanding that student union elections be held. Their first demand is the early announcement of an election date. Their second demand is the withdrawal of disciplinary action taken against protesting students. The third is the removal of the university’s security adviser and chief proctor from their positions. Students argue that a student union provides a democratic platform for communicating their concerns to the administration. They allege that the prolonged absence of elections has made it difficult for students to raise their issues collectively.

University Administration Forms Drafting Committee
The university’s high-level committee has stated that a drafting committee has been formed to prepare the student union constitution. According to the administration, elections cannot be conducted without first establishing the necessary rules and constitutional framework. The committee has also said it will review disciplinary actions taken after October 12. However, the students remain dissatisfied. They claim that the administration has indicated it will take two months to prepare the draft constitution but has not provided a definite election date. This uncertainty has contributed to the continuation of the protest.

Students Have Been on Hunger Strike for 13 Days
Protesting student Jasim Ali Khan said he had been on a hunger strike for 13 days. According to him, the administration has stated that the constitution will be drafted within two months but has not given a clear answer about the election date. Students say they could also assist in preparing the constitution. Another protester has called for intervention by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education. The students argue that, given how long their demand has remained pending, the administration should clarify the election process and its timeline.

BJP and Congress Leaders React to Controversy
On the issue of the controversial slogans, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has demanded an impartial investigation and action against those responsible. Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson Vinod Bansal also raised questions about the incident. Union Minister Giriraj Singh responded to the controversy by referring to the Shaheen Bagh protest. Meanwhile, Dr Shoaib Jamai, president of the AIMIM’s Delhi unit, alleged that attempts were being made to weaken the student union election movement. Congress MP Imran Masood visited Jamia to meet the students. Delhi Police subsequently detained him. Masood said he had not supported any slogan calling for Kashmir to be separated from India and described Kashmir as an integral part of the country.

Student Union Elections Have Been Absent Since 2005
The dispute over student union elections at Jamia dates back several years. The university last held elections in 2005. On March 31, 2006, the administration dissolved the elected student union, citing violence, disturbances and disruption to academic activities on campus. In 2012, a petition was also filed in the Delhi High Court seeking student union elections, but elections were not held. Students are now renewing their demand for the electoral process to resume. The incident involving the controversial slogans has brought their movement to the centre of a wider political debate.