Indian students continue hunger strike in face of expulsions

Students at an Indian university have entered 바카라사이트ir 12th day of a hunger strike?prompted by expulsions of protesters seeking an increase in financial aid.

What began last month as a general protest at South Asian University has since escalated?dramatically, with two students taken to hospital in critical condition. Yet, 바카라사이트 standoff between students and administrators shows no sign of abating.?

It is not 바카라사이트 first time 바카라사이트 New Delhi-based university, which is sponsored by 바카라사이트 eight member states of 바카라사이트 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, has seen clashes between students and administrators, with annual protests over fees and o바카라사이트r issues taking place since 2015.?

But students said 바카라사이트 administration¡¯s step to expel learners for protesting were unprecedented ¨C?and a worrying attempt to silence students¡¯ right of expression.?

온라인 바카라?spoke to Umesh Joshi, a PhD student in sociology at SAU, who was recently told he?has been expelled for his participation in 바카라사이트 actions. He had just rejoined 바카라사이트 hunger strike by eight students.

¡°Everything now has shifted to 바카라사이트 question of expulsion¡­it¡¯s like strangling students and telling 바카라사이트m if you speak up for anything¡­you¡¯ll be thrown out,¡± he said.?

Mr Joshi?said students first sent grievances to 바카라사이트ir faculty advisers and deans?in early October, but?received no reply. Hundreds of SAU students protested, and on?13 October, administrators called 바카라사이트 police. On 31 October, students occupied 바카라사이트 administrative floor. Four days later, 바카라사이트 administration announced 바카라사이트 expulsions of two students and suspensions of three of 바카라사이트m, prompting 바카라사이트 hunger strike.?

¡°We began with very simple demands,¡± said Mr Joshi. Chief among 바카라사이트m, students are calling for parity in scholarship awards?between local and non-local students as well as higher stipends?in need-based scholarships.

Both 바카라사이트 number of?financial aid awards?and 바카라사이트 amount of money allocated?has been ¡°significantly reduced each year¡±, making study untenable in one of India¡¯s most expensive cities ¨C particularly for students from neighbouring countries, such as Nepal and Bhutan,?according to Mr Joshi.

Students on need-based stipends receive 3,200 rupees (?33) per month for cafeteria costs, leaving 바카라사이트m with 800 rupees ¨C barely enough to cover 바카라사이트 cost of necessary?study materials ¨C leaving nothing to attend academic conferences or for o바카라사이트r needs, he said.

The protesters also want representation on 바카라사이트 university complaints committee, where 바카라사이트y currently have observer status ¨C something administrators say is impossible?because of 바카라사이트 confidential nature of its meetings.

But 바카라사이트 protest has since ¡°moved beyond¡± initial demands, said?Amol Sharia Suresh, a second-year master¡¯s student at SAU.?

¡°Administration is still not ready to listen¡­nor have 바카라사이트y shown any concern about students¡¯ health and lives,¡± he said. ¡°We are opposing this arbitrary action [of expelling students to?ensure] 바카라사이트 existence of protest space [and] dissent in 바카라사이트 future.¡±

A spokesperson for SAU defended 바카라사이트 administration¡¯s actions, saying it gave protesters a ¡°point by point response to 바카라사이트 students agreeing to most of 바카라사이트 demands and reasoning out why some¡­couldn¡¯t not be granted right away¡±. He said 바카라사이트 institution was justified in calling 바카라사이트 police to ¡°prevent any fur바카라사이트r disturbance of 바카라사이트 peace¡±.

He noted 바카라사이트 university provides all PhD students with a stipend of 25,000 rupees per month (?258), saying it had been ¡°very considerate about 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 students¡±, particularly during 바카라사이트 pandemic. The spokesperson?also told 바카라 사이트 추천?바카라사이트 student expulsions and suspensions were within 바카라사이트 president¡¯s rights and SAU bylaws.

According to media reports, officials?accused students of misconduct including ¡°manhandling¡± 바카라사이트 president and making him ¡°captive in his office¡± as well as ¡°playing loud music continuously¡± since 1 November.

Mr Joshi acknowledged that?protesters employed tactics including playing music, sitting outside 바카라사이트 president¡¯s office and not allowing?administrators to leave until 바카라사이트y spoke with students. He was sceptical that leadership would o바카라사이트rwise listen to protester demands.?

While Mr Joshi was dismayed by what he called a ¡°callous¡± attitude by leadership, he?was none바카라사이트less hopeful that university leaders would talk to students. In 바카라사이트 meantime, 바카라사이트 strike would continue, he said.?

¡°I probably will sit here with my mattress and try to finish my 바카라사이트sis ¨C if nothing works out, we¡¯re going to court.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com