Kanhaiya discharged from AIIMS, ends hunger strike

Jawaharlal Nehru University students union president Kanhaiya Kumar on Friday ended his nine-day hunger strike after he was discharged from AIIMS even as the university administration asked students not to invite outsiders saying it might vitiate the academic atmosphere and peace on campus.

While five students on Thursday withdrew their fast against the punishment by the university in connection with the February 9 event during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised, 15 others continued with the hunger strike.

Kanhaiya, who is out on bail after his arrest in a sedition case, was on Thursday admitted to AIIMS in a semi-conscious state.

He was discharged after treatment for mild dehydration and ketosis.

"Kanhaiya has been discharged from AIIMS. He has been advised bed rest for few days. He has to undergo some medical tests too, so keeping his health condition in mind he has withdrawn from the fast but will continue with the agitation," a JNUSU statement said.

The ketone level of the fasting students is high and the blood pressure is low, according to the test reports from the health centre.

On the other hand, the JNU issued fresh advisory for the students and teachers to avoid inviting outsiders to the campus.

The administration also asked the students to refrain from using "direct or indirect coercive measures and come forward for dialogue and discussion".

"The administration requests all the teachers and students to avoid inviting people from outside the campus for any gathering or activity to press their demands, which could undermine peace and security in the campus," JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar said in an appeal.

"Thousands of students on the campus are busy preparing for or writing their end semester examinations and also writing their dissertations. Continuing hunger strikes and escalation of it through involvement of outsiders may further enhance the stress level in the campus and affect the career of those students," he added.

While members from civil society joined the protests today, alumni of the university will gather on Saturday to express solidarity by fasting for a day.

In a separate notice, the Registrar asked the students not to use the public address system without permission and around the administration block, which has been the venue of protest ever since the sedition row broke out.

Twenty-five students had gone on hunger strike last week.

While five members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad called off their fast on Wednesday claiming they have an assurance from the JNU administration that their demands will be considered, five members of the Left-affiliated groups withdrew from the stir yesterday citing deteriorating health.

JNU Vice Chairman Jagadesh Kumar had earlier this week appealed to students to put forward their demands using "constitutional" means and asked them to come for a "dialogue" to resolve the matter.

IMAGE: Kanhaiya was admitted to the AIIMS facility after he began his fast.