The police used water cannons and batons on the protesting students
Hundreds of students of Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University are protesting against the 300% hike in hostel fee. The protesting students clashed with the police and paramilitary forces that have been deployed outside the campus. Policemen in riot gear, completely outnumbered by the students, hit the students with batons and used water cannons on the mob that was trying to meet the vice-chancellor over the fee hike after the barricades were dragged away by the protesting students.
The students, protesting a massive hike in hostel fees, curfew timings and dress codes, amped up their agitation today, as the university held its convocation. They say the massive fee hike will incapacitate students from deprived families to continue their studies at the elite institute.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal earlier attended a convocation ceremony today at JNU.
Here are the LIVE updates of the JNU students' protests:
JNU students end protests for the day
Traffic movement has been restored on the Nelson Mandela Marg as students end protests for the day.
JNU protesters jeer Delhi Police with "Tis Hazari" slogans
Angry JNU students jeered Delhi Police with "Tis Hazri, Tis Hazari" slogans after the police allegedly pushed some students, including women, who were holding a massive protest outside the campus gate on Monday, reported news agency IANS.
Movement closed on Nelson Mandela Marg, tweeted Delhi Traffic Police
Delhi Traffic Police tweeted an advisory asking commuters to avoid Nelson Mandela Marg where the JNU students are protesting. "Traffic movement is closed on Nelson Mandela Marg from Vasant Vihar to Vasant Kunj (both carriageways) due to demonstration. Kindly avoid the stretch," they tweeted.
Delhi Police said, "Police while exercising restraint have kept the situation under control"Police while exercising restraint have kept the situation under control. We are in contact with Jawaharlal Nehru University authorities as well as students. Our talks with the students are on," said Mandeep S Randhawa, Delhi Police PRO reported ANI.
Ramesh Pokhriyal assured the students' problems will be resolved, HRD Ministry tweeted
Ramesh Pokhriyal, who attended a convocation ceremony at the AICTE auditorium, met the students and assured that their problems will be resolved soon, the HRD Ministry tweeted
JNU has hiked the rent for a single room from Rs 10 to Rs 300, rent for a double room from Rs 20 to Rs 600 and one-time refundable mess security deposit from Rs 5,500 to Rs 12,000.
The circular shows the revised JNU hostel fees.
Fee Hike "crushes the dream of equality", JNU students' body said in a statement
"The fee hike will affect an overwhelming number of students. It denies those from the deprived sections to avail education if they cannot pay," the JNU Students Union has said in a statement.
"It crushes the dream of equality irrespective of ability to afford. Other provisions like Dress Code and Curfew timings reflect the regressive dystopia that the admin wants JNU to become," the students' body added.
HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal inside AICTE auditorium at JNU since morning as students escalate protests, cancels two scheduled events in ministry, said officials reported news agency PTI.
JNU Students Protesting 300 Per Cent Fee Hike Clash With Cops: 10 PointsThe students, objecting for a week over a 300 per cent hike in hostel fees, amped up their protests today, as the university held its convocation. The hostel fees, currently around Rs 2500, will be hiked to around Rs 7,500, say students. They say this will incapacitate students from deprived families who have made it to the elite institution to continue their studies."