Jamia Millia staff demand end to protests, political leaders seek probe into ‘free Kashmir’ slogans as classes go online

More than 1,500 teaching and non-teaching staff members of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), along with Vice-Chancellor Professor Mazhar Asif and Registrar Professor Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, gathered at the university’s Ansari Auditorium lawns on Saturday to discuss the way forward amid ongoing student protests.

The meeting followed four rounds of talks and an appeal issued by a university committee on Friday night urging students to call off their agitation. The gathering came after a week of efforts by a seven-member high-level committee of university professors, constituted on October 18, to mediate with students demanding elections to the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU).

Staff adopt two resolutions

Faculty members and staff expressed dismay over incidents of vandalism and the defacement of campus walls with what they described as highly objectionable slogans. They said such acts undermined the academic atmosphere and the dignity of an institution with a 106-year legacy, according to a university release.

The gathering unanimously adopted two resolutions. The first called on protesting students to vacate the protest site and end their agitation to restore peace and normalcy on campus. The staff particularly objected to the occupation of the Ghalib statue lawns, which they said had been taken over illegally despite Gate No. 18 being the designated protest site.

Under the second resolution, faculty members and staff pledged to repaint the defaced walls and cover slogans they described as highly condemnable and detrimental to the country’s integrity, security and sovereignty.

They warned that the slogans could cause lasting and irreversible damage to JMI’s reputation and standing. The staff stressed that the standing of a historic institution should not be jeopardised by the actions of a handful of individuals, particularly when the consequences could affect the wider university community.

Teachers, describing themselves as key stakeholders who had devoted decades to the institution, said they could not allow the university to be held to ransom. They also voiced concern over what they called falsehoods and misinformation being circulated by students on social media, warning that these could harm the university’s reputation.

BJP, opposition demand probe into 'Free Kashmir' slogans

The controversy over "Free Kashmir" slogans at Jamia Millia Islamia intensified on Saturday, with BJP leaders demanding an investigation and strict action against those responsible. Congress leader Udit Raj also called for a probe, while Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma said the slogans should be investigated separately from the students’ demand for union elections.

Both reiterated that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Meanwhile, students continued their indefinite hunger strike, which entered its 13th day, demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) and elections.

VC, registrar warn of impact on students’ prospects

Vice-Chancellor Professor Mazhar Asif and Registrar Professor Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi expressed serious concern over the defacement of university property and the writing of objectionable slogans threatening the country’s integrity and sovereignty.

They warned that such incidents could damage JMI’s standing and undermine the credibility of its students, potentially affecting their future employment and placement prospects as well as opportunities for higher education.

Addressing the gathering, members of the high-level committee said the university had made swift efforts to address an issue that had remained unresolved for two decades, but the protesting students had continued to resist engagement.

The JMI Students’ Union was suspended in 2006 following recurring incidents of violent clashes, attacks on teachers and occasional disruptions to classes.

The committee said the current administration had promptly notified the formation of a JMISU Constitution Draft Committee on October 21, 2026. It described the move as an initiative that no Vice-Chancellor or Registrar had undertaken since 2006.

Despite this step, students on hunger strike had shown no willingness to engage with the administration to reach an amicable settlement, the committee said.

Disciplinary review fails to bring students to talks

The committee members reiterated that the university had continued reaching out to protesters. On October 21, the administration issued another notification stating that “all disciplinary action taken or initiated against students sitting on protests with causes originating from 12.10.26 till 5:30 pm of 21.10.26 will be reviewed”.

The concession, however, failed to bring the protesters to the negotiating table, according to the release.

The committee said students remained adamant and escalated tensions by inviting leaders and representatives of local, regional and national political parties and groups. Teachers warned that these developments could further worsen the campus atmosphere and lead to chaos, hooliganism, vandalism and additional defacement of university walls.

Teachers’ outreach ends in confrontation

After adopting the resolutions, teaching and non-teaching staff marched from the Ansari Auditorium lawns, passing through Gate No. 13 and crossing the main road to reach Gate No. 7. They then proceeded to the protest site to persuade students to end their agitation.

The staff spent two hours attempting to convince the protesters to call off the demonstration and restore normalcy on campus. However, the students continued chanting slogans and shouting at faculty members to “go back”, the university release said.

The students then allegedly began pushing security guards, staff members and teachers, while refusing to heed repeated appeals from senior faculty members. This happened despite the university having met their demands earlier in the week, according to the release.

The teachers and staff eventually withdrew from the protest site and returned to the Ansari Auditorium.

JMI shifts classes online with immediate effect

Following the day’s developments, the university administration issued a notification announcing that classes across all courses would move online with immediate effect.

The decision was taken in view of the prevailing situation and to ensure the safety and security of the university’s bona fide students.

JMI advised all students to follow their online class schedules and avoid visiting the campus. The university’s gates and libraries will remain closed while classes are held online, until further notice.

(with ANI inputs)