Delhi Police files 2 FIRs against JNU students who clashed with cops during protest march

A day after the massive protest march by JNU students to Parliament, the Delhi Police on Tuesday filed 2 FIRs against the students who they claim clashed with cops and created ruckus near Safdargunj Tomb area and Jor Bagh area in Delhi. Sources said that the Delhi Police might file another FIR against the students. The JNU students demanding complete rollback of the hostel manual, on Monday marched to the Parliament but were stopped at Jor Bagh area.

When the students sat in a sit-in protest, thereby bringing the traffic to halt in the area, the Delhi Police eventually managed to clear the area. Meanwhile, taking a step to bring the situation back to normal, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has set up a 3-member high-powered committee to resolve the issues of the JNU students via dialogue.

The JNU administration, on the other hand, said that the students are protesting in an undemocratic way. They claimed that the students heckled and gheraoed them. They also said, in a press briefing on Sunday that the hostel manual was implemented only after proper consultations. 

READ: JNU protests: Delhi Police issues ultimatum; students demand rollback of fee hike for all

What are the students demanding?

The JNU students marched towards the Parliament as the winter session commenced on Monday, demanding a complete rollback of fee-hike for all in JNU. They alleged that crores of Rupees for secondary and higher cess have not been utilised, quoting a CAG report. They are against the National Education Policy claiming that it closes the door on public-funded education. The students' union has been on a strike against the Draft Hostel Manual which was approved by the Inter-Hall Administration. They claim that the manual has provisions for fee hike, curfew timings and dress code restrictions for students. They have said they will not end the strike till the Hostel Manual is withdrawn.

READ: JNU Teachers Association backs students' protest, demand VC's resignation

Hostel fees rolled back

On Wednesday, JNU administration announced a roll-back of the hostel fees after massive and continuous protest by the students. Announcing the roll-back on Twitter, the Education Secretary R Subrahmanyam said that the JNU executive committee has rolled back the fees that were hiked. The Secretary also added that it is time to go back to classes as the JNU executive committee has proposed a scheme for economic assistance to EWS students. 

READ: Congress blames JNU administration amid students protest over fee hike

READ: JNU admin slams Congress for supporting students defacing campus