Ex-JNUSU presidents extend support to agitating students

New Delhi, Nov 25 (IANS) Former presidents of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU), here on Monday, extended their support to the students, currently protesting against proposed hostel fee hike.

Addressing the media, several former JNUSU office-bearers, including Sitaram Yechury and Prakash Karat, demanded an enquiry by a high court judge into alleged police action against students during a rally, and rollback of the proposed hostel fee hike.

However, all former JNUSU presidents insisted that the protest should not be seen as a "Left vs BJP", but students' fight to get their democratic rights.

Yechury, who led the JNUSU in 1977-78, said, "The students' struggle is not restricted to hostel fee hike but is a struggle to save public education. The current regime is converting education into a privilege and not a right."

After the press conference, former JNUSU presidents signed a joint statement extending support to the students' struggle for rollback of the fee hike.

The JNU students are protesting against the varsity administration's move to hike hostel, mess and security fee, reportedly by 400 per cent. It has also limited the hostel timings.

While the JNU administration later announced a 50 per cent concession for those belonging to the BPL (below the poverty line) category, the students rejected that terming it as an eye wash, and demanded a total rollback of the proposed hostel fee hike.