New Delhi: The protest by women students of Jamia Millia Islamia over insects allegedly found in hostel food entered its third day Saturday, with protesters alleging that the administration had failed to honour assurances given to them earlier.
The protest, led by residents of J&K Girls’ Hostel, began Thursday night and continued till around 3am Friday. Students had demanded immediate cancellation of the contract of the current mess vendor, deployment of only women staff in the mess and protection against retaliatory action against protesters.
Protesting near Centenary Gate, students raised slogans such as “ Paise poore lete hain, khana ganda dete hain ”. The administration then gave them a written assurance that the vendor’s contract would be terminated with immediate effect and agreed to the other two demands, following which the protest was called off. The protest resumed Friday and continued Saturday, with women students from other hostels joining the agitation and male students also extending solidarity. Friday night, they stayed at the gate, defying the hostel curfew, and alleged that the lights at the site were switched off. They switched on their phone flashlights and banged plates in protest.