New Delhi: Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday warned against any attempt to create law and order problems, after Delhi Police imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) around Jamia Millia Islamia University.
Highlighting that the university’s Vice-Chancellor was dealing with the matter, Joshi said, “Efforts are being made… negotiations are on. Nobody should try to create law and order problems.” He emphasised that elections to the students’ union had not been held for the past two decades.
Meanwhile, the university administration handed over Gate No. 8 to Delhi Police, allowing personnel to enter the campus and take control of one of its key access points. Gates 7 and 8 are two of the university’s major entry and exit points.
Iron sheets have been installed to seal Gate 4C of the campus. Grills along the boundary wall near Gate 4C are also being reinforced with concrete support. The development comes after several instances of protesting students attempting to scale the fences over the past few days.
Late on Monday night, the university announced that classes would be conducted online until November 8. The order also stated that second-semester mid-term examinations would be held online.
Protests over the demand for restoration of the students’ union continued despite the administration issuing a fresh warning to demonstrators on Monday. A warning letter issued to student Rehan Khan, one of several students on hunger strike, described the ongoing protest as “unlawful and causing suffering to smooth functioning” of several departments.
The notice called on the protesting students to end the stir immediately or face legal action.
