Asaduddin Owaisi urges AMU to rollback fee hike, backs students’ protest

NEW DELHI: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has voiced support for the ongoing protests at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), urging the administration to reverse its recent fee hike.“In complete solidarity with the students of Aligarh Muslim University. The University must roll back its fee hike at the earliest. Many of AMU’s students come from backwards regions & very poor families. A 35%-40% increase in fees is unbearable for them,” Owaisi posted on X.Protest enters seventh dayThe student agitation, now in its seventh day, has seen demonstrations over multiple issues, including the 35–40% fee hike, reinstatement of suspended students, and the release of those detained during earlier protests.Tensions escalated after female students alleged harassment by the proctorial team and police during a peaceful demonstration. In response, protesters have demanded the resignation of the proctorial team, accusing them of failing to protect students’ dignity and safety.Symbolic Raksha Bandhan protestOn the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, female demonstrators sent rakhis (sacred threads) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the governor, the district magistrate, the senior superintendent of police, and AMU officials. The gesture, they said, was a call for authorities to take responsibility for ensuring their safety.“Our sisters were assaulted, their dignity was hurt,” one student said. “On this occasion of Raksha Bandhan, our sisters are sending some rakhis to our Prime Minister, chief minister, governor, president, SSP, and DM, asking them to take responsibility for our protection.”Protesting women also displayed black threads to members of the proctorial team in a symbolic sign of no-confidence.Demands and determinationThe students have vowed to continue their dharna (sit-in protest) until all demands are met. “Our first demand is the resignation of the proctorial team responsible for this dishonour. We are sitting here until they resign; until then, our demands will not be met. Once they resign, then our other demands regarding fees and so on will be taken up,” a protester said.