JNUSU president hospitalised amid ongoing hunger stir

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Nitish Kumar was hospitalised on Tuesday, the 12th day of an ongoing hunger strike, after he complained of chest pain, JNUSU members said.

Students have been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the reinstatement of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEE), which has been replaced with a UGC-NET-based entrance system in recent years. The other demands include increasing the merit-cum-means scholarship and revocation of hostel eviction notices for PhD scholars on academic extension.

Mr. Kumar, a member of the Left-affiliated All India Students’ Association (AISA), was taken to Safdarjung Hospital.

Loni, a JNU student and an AISA activist, who participated in the hunger strike, was also rushed to AIIMS on Tuesday afternoon after she blacked out. Both of them are said to be in stable condition.

The JNUSU, in an open letter to the JNU Teachers’ Association, stated that 14 students have been on hunger strike. “Our principal demand is the restoration of the JNUEE. This exam has long ensured that this campus remains accessible to students from diverse backgrounds across the country. Its continuation is essential for safeguarding the inclusive character and academic integrity of JNU,” the letter read.