Amjad Ali and Advocate Syed Kaif Hasan announce intensified struggle; demand BHU election schedule and call for a decision by next Tuesday
Report: S. Muneer
Delhi: Following the decision to hold Students’ Union elections at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) after an eight-year gap, the demand for restoring students’ unions is gaining momentum at universities across the country. After extending support to the ongoing students’ movement at Jamia Millia Islamia, student leaders have now raised the demand for the restoration of the Students’ Union and the announcement of an election schedule at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
Law student Amjad Ali and Aligarh alumnus Advocate Syed Kaif Hasan have expressed their determination to intensify the struggle for students’ representation and democratic rights.
Amjad Ali said that the students’ movement at Jamia Millia Islamia had received every possible support from the very beginning. He added that, if necessary, a bus would travel from Aligarh to BHU via Jamia to demonstrate solidarity with students.
According to him, the demand for restoring students’ unions is not limited to any single university but concerns students’ democratic rights and representation across the country.
Former student Syed Kaif Hasan said, “Aligarh is a factory for producing student leaders. Our struggle will continue until students’ unions are restored in every university.”
With these statements, the demand for students’ union restoration is emerging as a broader movement connecting Aligarh, Jamia Millia Islamia and BHU.
Memorandum Proposed to BHU Administration
A memorandum has been proposed for submission to the Dean of Students at BHU, seeking the restoration of the Students’ Union and an early announcement of the election schedule.
The memorandum states that the prolonged absence of an elected Students’ Union has made it difficult for students to raise their concerns effectively before the university administration.
Referring to the democratic traditions associated with the institution founded by Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the memorandum emphasises the importance of student representation and calls for the restoration of the union.
It also cites AMU’s decision to hold Students’ Union elections after eight years and urges BHU to take similar steps towards restoring an elected student representative body.
Basic Facilities and Campus Security Under Focus
Students have raised concerns over several issues affecting their daily academic and residential lives, including hostel allotment, the quality of food served in mess facilities, library timings, Wi-Fi connectivity and access to the cyber library.
According to the proposed memorandum, the absence of a formal student representative body creates difficulties in bringing these issues to the administration’s attention and seeking timely solutions.
Restrictions on students’ movement at night and hostel-related restrictions have also been highlighted. The memorandum further stresses the need for effective campus security arrangements and concrete measures to ensure the safety of female students.
Another major concern is the lack of communication between students and the university administration. The memorandum states that inadequate communication channels prevent students from effectively presenting their legitimate demands and may contribute to frustration and dissatisfaction on campus.
Three Key Demands; Appeal for Decision by Next Tuesday
The proposed memorandum outlines three principal demands before the BHU administration:
- Announcement of the election schedule: Declare the BHU Students’ Union election schedule at the earliest, in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines.
- Fair and transparent elections: Ensure that the electoral process is conducted impartially and transparently.
- Formation of a joint committee: Establish a committee comprising student representatives and university administration officials to address students’ immediate concerns until the elections are held.
The memorandum also appeals to the university administration to take a positive decision on the issue by next Tuesday and initiate time-bound steps towards restoring the Students’ Union.
The demand is intended to provide students with a formal platform to communicate their concerns, raise campus-related issues and participate in discussions concerning university affairs.
Student Leaders Vow to Continue the Struggle
The statements by Amjad Ali and Advocate Syed Kaif Hasan underline the importance of student representation and an effective mechanism for resolving students’ grievances.
With the demand for Students’ Union restoration now being raised at BHU, the student leaders have indicated that their campaign will continue. Attention is now focused on the university administration’s response to the proposed election schedule, the restoration of the union and the creation of a formal dialogue mechanism with students.
Disclaimer: This report is based on the information available and the sources concerned. Any claims or allegations should be verified with the relevant official authorities.