Latest news with #JNUSU
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
No Hindi-Marathi debate, says Fadnavis as he opens special centre in JNU
Amid the ongoing controversy in Maharashtra over a now-shelved proposal to introduce Hindi in primary education, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday inaugurated the Kusumagraj Special Centre for Marathi Language, Literature and Culture at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). He also laid the foundation stone of the Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Special Centre for Security and Strategic Studies, which will explore indigenous strategic traditions based on the Maratha empire and is envisioned to become a hub for military history, strategy and future policy development rooted in India's past. Language issue Touching upon the emotive Marathi-Hindi issue in his address, Mr. Fadnavis said, 'The debate is not Marathi versus Hindi. There is no alternative to Marathi. A Marathi person has to accept Marathi. But our policy is Marathi along with other Indian languages. We should learn Marathi and also know other languages.' Asserting that language is a means of communication but never of discord and one's mother tongue is important, the Chief Minister said 'the insistence on Marathi is natural and justified, but we should also respect other Indian languages'. JNU Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit in her address thanked the Maharashtra government for its enthusiasm in setting up the centres. She said the university has sent proposals to the Maharashtra government, with the seed money for the two centres amounting to ₹45 crore. 'Under the National Education Policy, we will be providing certificate courses, and value-added courses in Marathi for non-Marathi students. The centre will also offer PhD programmes,' she told The Hindu, adding that the courses will be started soon. Regarding the Maharashtra government's request for a statue of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji on campus, Ms. Pandit said the university will respond to them in writing and once a concrete plan is established, it will go to JNU's Executive Council for approval. JNUSU protest Meanwhile, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) held a demonstration outside the Convention Centre where the inauguration took place. JNUSU president Nitish Kumar said they were not opposing the new centres but against the 'saffronisation of JNU and other educational institutions' and the 'regional chauvinism shown by the BJP-led Maharashtra government'.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Black cloth, scuffles and slogans: JNU students protest visit of Maharashtra CM
New Delhi: Black cloth fluttered and slogans of "Go back" echoed across the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on Thursday, as students protested the visit of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis , who visited the capital to inaugurate a new Marathi Language Centre and lay the foundation stone for another centre named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on campus. T he protest, led by the Left-affiliated members JNU Students' Union (JNUSU), saw heavy police deployment and barricades outside the convention centre. A human chain was formed to prevent them from entering the venue, leading to a brief scuffle between students and the cops. Protesters waved black cloth at the CM and condemned the Maharashtra Special Public Safety (MSPS) Bill, calling it a tool to stifle dissent. "The protest is not against the centre which is being opened by JNU. This is against the visit of Maharashtra CM Fadnavis who silences the voice of dissent in his state — from comedians to Dalits, Muslim minorities and now the opposition, activists and protesters, through the MSPS Bill. JNU does not have any place for these hate mongers," said JNUSU president Nitish Kumar. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The protesters also condemned the JNU VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit for allowing Delhi Police to enter the campus. JNUSU general secretary Munteha Fatima said, "We will resist the presence of hate mongers who push anti-people bills like the MSPS Bill, curbing civil and democratic rights and attacking constitutional values. That such figures are being welcomed by the administration is a shame, especially in a university known for its critical thinking, resistance, and commitment to pluralism" "Why is only Marathi-speaking being promoted in Maharashtra, while migrants and North Indians continue to face discrimination? This is nothing but regional chauvinism," said JNUSU vice-president Manisha.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
JNU students protest, NET results to be out on July 22
New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union ( JNUSU ) on Thursday led a delegation to the National Testing Agency (NTA) office, demanding the immediate release of the UGC-NET June 2025 results. Hours later, the NTA announced that the results will be declared on July 22. In a letter submitted to the NTA Director, JNUSU expressed "utmost urgency and concern" over the delay, stating it had caused "widespread anxiety, uncertainty, and disruption" for thousands of candidates. The union noted that UGC-NET results are usually declared within a timeframe, and the delay was especially concerning given that several universities, including JNU, are currently conducting PhD admissions. "Inclusion of the June 2025 UGC-NET results in the current Ph.D. admission cycle is crucial to ensuring equal opportunity," the letter stated. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The delegation was led by JNUSU president Nitish Kumar, vice president Manisha and general secretary Munteha Fatima.
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
No support for reinstating JNU Entrance Examination for PhD admissions: VC
NEW DELHI: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit responded to the ongoing student protests on Friday, stating there is no support from any academic school or centre for reinstating the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE) for PhD admissions. Pandit clarified that the decision to adopt the CUET and UGC-NET as admission routes was unanimously endorsed by the university's deans and that her responsibility is to implement these academic decisions. The Vice-Chancellor's statement came as the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) entered the third week of its indefinite hunger strike, which began on June 26. The student body has been demanding the reinstatement of JNUEE, automatic hostel extensions for research scholars, an increase in the Merit-cum-Means (MCM) scholarship, and the withdrawal of disciplinary actions against protesting students. Despite the worsening health of some protesters, the administration has remained firm. In a statement issued on the university's official social media handle, Pandit expressed concern for students' well-being but emphasised that the policy changes cannot be made unilaterally. She reiterated that 'the administration is open to dialogue and willing to engage with students through institutional and democratic channels.' The JNUSU, however, has remained resolute, accusing the administration of 'centralised and undemocratic' decision-making. Student leaders also criticised the decision to host the Vice-President during the ongoing protests, alleging that student voices are being ignored. They warned that protests would escalate if their demands are not met. As the hunger strike entered its 15th day, tensions remained high, with student organisations like NSUI, AISA, and SFI showing solidarity with the protesters.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
JNU V-C urges students to end hunger strike
As the indefinite hunger strike led by Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) entered its 15th day on Friday, Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit, in a letter, urged the students to end their protest and resume dialogue with the administration. 'Your expectations of immediate acceptance of all your demands is neither administratively realistic nor legally tenable,' Pandit wrote in a letter addressed to the protesting students. 'I, once again, urge you to immediately end your hunger strike and come for a meeting to resolve issues through negotiations and mutual understanding.' Citing health concerns, she added: 'Despite repeated medical evaluation and advice from doctors to discontinue in your long-term interests, you have chosen to persist. Let me remind you that you held repeated meetings with me and the administration.' The protest began in June after the university refused to grant automatic extension of hostel accommodation rights to research scholars who have received academic extensions to complete their PhDs. At the heart of the stand-off is an undertaking issued by the Dean of Students on July 7, which required students seeking hostel extension to declare their PhD submission date and acknowledge that such extensions are granted only 'on humanitarian grounds subject to the availability of hostel accommodation on a case-to-case basis'. In response, JNUSU argued the undertaking disregarded the material realities of research scholars, especially those who are not (National Eligibility Test) NET-qualified and receive a meager Rs 8,000 monthly stipend. 'No one is aware of the things that might happen during fieldwork, which might cause delay,' the statement said, arguing that timelines for PhD submission are not always within students' control. In their July 7 meeting with the Dean, JNUSU demanded that academic extension should by default translate to an extension of hostel accommodation. The union claimed that JNU's refusal to guarantee automatic academic extension can trigger forced dropouts, especially among scholars from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
