JNU Protest: Who is John Brittas? Why are university students on hunger strike for 17 days? What are their requirements? | Today’s news
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has sought President Draupadi Murma’s intervention and expressed concern over the health of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students who have been on hunger strike since October 3. In a post on X, he said the strike entered its 17th day on Monday (October 19).
“The indefinite hunger strike of JNU students, now in its 17th day, and the deteriorating health of the participants require immediate intervention,” John Brittas wrote on social media.
He said that as a former JNU student, “I am deeply concerned about the current situation.”
“A university that has nurtured debate and dissent must not punish them. Its democratic traditions must be preserved and the voices of its students deserve to be heard, not silenced,” Brittas wrote on X.
Who is John Brittas?
John Brittas is a leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from Kerala. Brittas was born on 15 May 1966 in Pulikurumba, Naduvil, Kannur.
In his profile on the Rajya Sabha website, Brittas’ profession is registered as “Senior Journalist, Senior Media Management Staff”.
He received his BA, MA, MPhil and PhD from Calicut University, Kerala and Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
John Brittas was elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 2021 and has since served as a member of several committees including the Committee on Commerce, the Committee on Communications and Information Technology, the Committee on the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Committee on Public Enterprises, the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture and the India-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Why did Jon Brittas write to the president?
John Brittas went to X to deliver his letter to the President, urging her to take “immediate steps to reverse the unjust rustication of JNUSU’s elected representatives, withdraw the objectionable provisions of the CPO Manual and address the persistent grievances of the students”.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) said its office bearers and 14 other students have been on an indefinite hunger strike since October 3.
JNUSU president Aditi, vice-president Gopika and general secretary Sunil are among those observing the hunger strike, the student body said on October 5.
Referring to the Jawaharlal Nehru University Act of 1966, Brittas said the legislation identified social justice, secularism and a democratic way of life as the founding principles of the university. The Act designates the President as the Visitor of the University.
He urged President Murma to intervene under Section 8 of the Act and take appropriate steps to cancel the rustication orders, withdraw the alleged objectionable provisions of the CPO manual and urgently resolve the pending grievances of the students.
Why are JNU students on hunger strike?
The union opposed disciplinary proceedings against its elected representatives and sought their reinstatement. After protests earlier this year, officials remained in rustication for several months.
Brittas said on Monday that the rustication of elected student union representatives, including the former JNUSU president, had raised serious concerns.
“The exclusion of elected representatives from the university directly affects the functioning of the student union and weakens the mechanism by which students collectively articulate their grievances,” he wrote.
Brittas also raised concerns about the continued enforcement of the Chief Procurator’s Office (CPO) Manual, which sets out fines and disciplinary measures for several forms of protest and assembly.
Recalling his years at JNU, he said that the university had long provided space for debates, discussions and democratic activities.
He warned that disproportionate disciplinary measures could discourage students from making legitimate complaints for fear of reprisals.
He also highlighted outstanding concerns regarding gender justice, equal opportunities, admissions and basic campus amenities, saying the prolonged impasse has assumed serious proportions in view of the health risks to those on hunger strike.
What are the demands of the protesters?
According to PTI, the unions said the hunger strike would continue until their demands regarding cancellation of the Chief Procurator’s Office (CPO) manual and the order of rustication against union office bearers are resolved.
JNUSU also called for a review of the Chief Proctor Office (CPO) Manual, saying its provisions affect students’ rights and participation in campus affairs.
According to PTI, the protesting students are also demanding:
1. Immediate attention to the ‘crumbling’ infrastructure in the JNU campus
2. Renewal of the Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH)
3. Independent investigation of the alleged recruitment fraud through the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and;
4. Reestablishment of Equal Opportunity Cell in line with the proposed Rohith Act.
‘Admin made no concrete effort to negotiate’
JNUSU on Friday claimed that Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit had for the first time acknowledged the ongoing hunger strike but refused to speak to the rusticated students when she visited the site of the protest.
In a statement issued on Friday, the students’ union criticized the vice-chancellor’s public expression of concern for the health of the hunger strikers, saying the administration had made no concrete efforts to negotiate.
JNUSU president Aditi Mishra claimed that the vice chancellor briefly visited the hunger strike site on October 16 and told the protesters that their demands had been met and they should end the strike.
“When I ran to the spot to talk to her, she got into the car and said she will not talk to the rustic students,” Mishra said, adding that the protest would continue until all demands were met.
The union said the administration had expressed its interest in starting another round of negotiations at 11 a.m. Friday, but no concrete steps had been taken to complete the meeting.
She accused the university administration of making public statements to create an impression of concern while failing to meaningfully engage with protesting students.
In a statement on Monday, the VC said that the competent authority on behalf of the university management went to meet the students on hunger strike at 8:50 am on October 16 and found that no one was present at the protest site.
JNU Vice-Chancellor (VC): “Even medical care is provided”
Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Santishree Dhulipudi on Monday issued a statement saying that the competent authority on behalf of the university management went to meet the students on hunger strike at 8:50 am on October 16 and found that no one was present at the protest site.
“Medical care is even provided to rustic students for humanitarian reasons… twice daily checkup from day 1 as per medical protocol,” the statement said.
The VC further said that there were two rounds of discussion on the demands of the students and more meetings would follow.
“Further, earlier, on October 9, 2026, the same committee (on behalf of the administration) met with the strikers at the Vice-Chancellor’s office and discussed the matter for more than four hours. The result of the meeting was that the two hunger-striking groups ended their strike after being assured by the committee. The groups refused to meet together, they met separately,” the statement said.
The VC’s statement said the administration is “most democratic and humane” and has not taken any action against the rusticated students, despite the destruction of “public property worth ₹20 million”.
“It was bought with money provided by the Indian government, with Indian taxpayers’ money,” he added.
JNU Students’ Union hits out at VC’s remarks
In response, JNUSU alleged that its rustic office bearers were denied medical check-ups during the first six days of the hunger strike and claimed that their vital signs were monitored through a private laboratory during this period.
JNUSU also questioned the vice-chancellor’s visit to the protest site at 9 am, claiming that it was aimed at creating a narrative that only a few students were participating in the agitation.
The students’ union claimed that hundreds of student volunteers and hunger strikers remained at the site 24 hours a day and questioned why the VC did not inform them before her visit or decided to visit in the evening.
In defense of its legitimacy, JNUSU said it was an elected representative body with a mandate of around 9,000 students, not just a student group. Its representatives were elected through independent election commissions and informed by the office of the dean of students, she said.
JNUSU also alleged corruption in university recruitment and questioned the administration’s commitment to protect taxpayers’ money.
Strike “illegal”?
According to JNUSU, the Chief Security Officer cited a rustic and impermissible order against the union office and claimed that the ongoing hunger strike was illegal.
The student body further alleged that the officials were warned that their rustication period may be extended if they continue with the protest.
JNUSU further alleged that the administration denied medical check-ups to trade unionists participating in the hunger strike.
She said she had told the vice chancellor that the hunger strike would continue until her demands were resolved.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
