Students at Hyderabad's MANUU staged a solidarity protest for Jamia Millia Islamia students, demanding student representation and accountability while rejecting the university's move to end their ongoing 14-day hunger strike and agitation.

Solidarity Protest at MANUU

Students at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad staged a solidarity protest in support of students of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), alleging targeting of Muslim identity at the university. Demonstrators gathered with placards to back the ongoing agitation at Jamia, New Delhi, voicing concerns over administrative accountability, campus rights, and student representation.

Highlighting institutional grievances, a MANUU student leader who participated in the protest stated that there is a need of student representation to address the issues. "We have been facing issues for the last two years, but Jamia students have been struggling for 20 years. They have a union. We have seen how extra-judicial ground realities exist. There is no accountability and no legal remedy. We are demanding legal remedies from the administration, but no one from the administration has come out to address the issues. We need student representation to address our issues. We see Muslim identity being (targeted) in Jamia," a MANUU student said.

Jamia Administration Issues Final Warning

Earlier on Tuesday, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) issued a ‘final’ warning to protesting students, asking them to immediately vacate the Gulistan-e-Ghalib Building and Ghalib Lawn in the university’s North Campus, according to a notice shared by the protesting students. “Your presence in the Gulistan-e-Ghalib Building, in which the Department of Political Science and the Department of Economics are located, is unlawful and is causing disruption to the smooth functioning of these departments,” the notice read.

The notice directed the students to vacate the building and the sit-in site at Ghalib Lawn without further delay and leave the campus along with their companions. “In view of the foregoing circumstances, you are hereby given a final opportunity to immediately vacate the said building as well as the sit-in site at Ghalib Lawn in the North Campus, without any further delay, upon receipt of this notice, and leave the campus along with your companions,” it stated.

The university warned that failure to comply with the directive would invite disciplinary and legal action. “If you do not vacate the said premises immediately, disciplinary and legal action shall be initiated against you,” the notice added.

Status of Student Union Elections

Earlier, Jamia Millia Islamia announced the resumption of its student union elections, ending a two-decade pause following days of intense campus protests. The university administration said elections will be held within 15 days of approval of the students’ union constitution. “The Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union Election will be held after 15 days, from the date of approval of the constitution of the Students’ Union of Jamia Millia Islamia,” the order stated.

An official order dated October 26, 2026, issued by the Office of the Registrar at Jamia Millia Islamia, stated that the administration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union Election will take place 15 days after the approval of the union's constitution. The announcement comes after days of protests by students, who have been demanding the restoration of the elected students’ union, which was dissolved by the university administration in 2006.

Protesting Students Reject Administration's Notice

However, protesting students of Jamia Millia Islamia rejected the university administration’s notice, asserting that their 14-day-long agitation will continue until all their demands are met, including the restoration of the students’ union and a definite timeline for elections. The students also clarified that those observing a hunger strike would continue it, dismissing reports claiming that they had accepted the administration’s assurances and called off the protest.

Countering media reports claiming that students had accepted the administration’s assurances and withdrawn their protest, the students said such accounts were based on the administration’s version of events and did not reflect the position of the protesting students. The students maintained that the notice did not provide a clear commitment to the restoration of the students’ union, which remains the central demand of the ongoing agitation. They also confirmed that students observing a hunger strike would continue it until their demands were fulfilled.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the notice, the protesters said it contained vague assurances and failed to specify a timeline for approval of the students’ union constitution or provide a clear roadmap for conducting union elections. The developments came after days of campus demonstrations and a hunger strike, with students pressing the university to restore the elected students’ union and provide a clear timeline for the electoral process. (ANI)

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