While the indefinite hungerstrike by JNU students entered its tenth day on Saturday, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar withdrew from it, citing medical reasons.
While the indefinite hungerstrike by JNU students entered its tenth day on Saturday, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar withdrew from it, citing medical reasons. He was discharged from AIIMS on Friday after treatment for mild dehydration and ketosis.
“Kanhaiya was back on campus Friday night and due to his health condition, doctors advised him to discontinue with the fast. He has been advised bed rest for a few days and has to also undergo some medical tests. While he has withdrawn the fast, he will continue with the agitation,” a statement from the JNU Students’ Union said.
So far, six students have withdrawn their fast against the punishment by the university in connection with the February 9 event while 14 others are still continuing.
The health reports of other fasting students mentioned high ketone levels, low BP and weight loss.
Meanwhile, the JNU Teachers’ Association called for a relay hungerstrike after the university administration urged teachers and students to “avoid inviting people from outside the campus for any gathering or activity”.
Claiming it to be an “attempt at intimidation”, JNUTA secretary Bikramaditya Choudhary said, “They have crossed all limits by threatening a constitutional body. We have, so far, not invited any individual or institution to join the hungerstrike. However, we would like to reassert our privilege to call any institution or individual that we find fit to speak or perform in JNU as it is well within our democratic rights.”
“We will oppose all efforts to persecute individuals, including students, from any institution across the world which is done to satisfy mob outcry and false perceptions. With the moral responsibility of a teacher, JNUTA clamours for compassion and justice and urges JNU administration not to fall prey to the situation created by motivated elements to vilify JNU. There will be no persecution to satisfy perception (sic),” JNUTA president Ajay Patnaik said.
The alumni of the varsity also joined the protesting students and formed a human chain on Saturday evening.
