More than 3000 students and teachers start a long march from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) North Gate to Parliament Complex on 23 March 2018. The march starts from the north gate of JNU university at 4:00 PM in a disciplined and peaceful manner. The march was going ahead, and protesters tried their best to help the vehicles passed smoothly.
On the way to Parliament complex, Delhi police stopped the march at INA market and restored lathi-charge and used water cannons. Many protesters were badly beaten by the police and later detained and beaten, said one of the protesters. Police not only targetted protesting students but media personnel too.
.@Delhi Police roughed up @htTweets Photo Journalist #AnushreeFadnavis and snatched her camera during #JNU students protest in #Delhi. @htdelhi #JNURightToBunk #JNULongMarch @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/UKwEW4h9yu
— Ajay Aggarwal (@AjayAggarwalHT) March 23, 2018
Why JNU students and teachers were protesting
There are a number of issues going on in the campus for several days. The vice-chancellor of the university is not ready to address those issues even after several attempts and processions in the campus. The problems are not only related to the university but mainly affecting the higher education system in all over the country. Some of the issues are:
- academic freedom
- suspension of a teacher who is alleged in the sexual harassment case
- against the removal of seven center’s chairperson arbitrarily
- against giving autonomy to universities including financial autonomy
- against the vice-chancellor who doesn’t listen to the students and teachers
- non-fulfillment of reservation quota
- attendance issue
Why the march was stopped
Police have not given any statement regarding stopping the JNU students, and teachers march to Parliament complex. The march was stopped near the INA on the way to Parliament complex. The police deployed massive force to prevent the peaceful protesters. The cops used lathi-charged and water cannon to stop the protesters moving towards the Parliament complex.
Some more so called ‘peaceful’ protesters lifting and throwing barricades and assaulting police personnel on duty. pic.twitter.com/WUzYRqxTxN
— Madhur Verma (@IPSMadhurVerma) March 23, 2018
Some female students and journalists allege that male police officers on duty “groped” and “thrashed” roughly. The photographs and videos are emerging in the media showing the brutal face of the Delhi police.
On the martydom day of Bhagat Singh, this is how our govt treats students who follow in his footsteps and demand their rights. We are not afraid of your lathis, we want our right to education. Modi-Javadekar-Jagadesh Kumar, stop destroying our universities #StudentsLongMarch pic.twitter.com/gQtdKZD3vs
— Umar Khalid (@UmarKhalidJNU) March 23, 2018
Why Police behave brutally with JNU students
JNU is a place where students trained academically but also trained to raising voice against unjust practices exist in our society and question the unjust government policies. Students of JNU always on the street when the issue affects the marginalized and vulnerable communities in the society.
Delhi Police facilitated bail in minutes for Prof Johri who abused girl students in JNU, but treats the Protesting students this way…😩☹ #JNUprotest https://t.co/HAG3ECnQzi pic.twitter.com/atykoeTqsn
— Jairaj P (@jairajp) March 24, 2018
During the Nirbhaya case, JNU took the struggle to the street and pressurized the government to formulate a stringent law dealing with the cases of rape and sexual harassment in the country. Such protests and JNU students’ participation disturb the government because such protest brings the government inefficiency in light, the police are given the order to deal brutally then and there. However, JNU students are still together in such adverse time and committed to fighting for justice and fairness.
