The AMU student hunger strike has entered its 15th day, intensifying protests over the absence of Aligarh Muslim University Students’ Union (AMUSU) elections since the 2018-19 academic session.
Yasser Fahad, a postgraduate Urdu student, is leading the hunger strike to demand the restoration of the elected students’ union. The prolonged protest has raised concerns about his health after his vital signs reportedly deteriorated.
According to the university administration, officials attempted to shift Fahad to the university’s medical college for urgent medical attention. However, protesting students stopped the move. The administration maintained that the attempt was intended to provide medical care rather than disrupt the protest.
The standoff has brought renewed attention to students’ demands for a clear timeline for union elections and discussions with the university authorities.
Why Students Want AMUSU Elections
Students say the absence of an elected union has left them without a formal representative body to raise campus-related concerns.
Their demands extend beyond the announcement of an election date. Protesters argue that an elected union could provide a platform to address issues involving hostel facilities, mess food, electricity, curfew rules, academics and other student welfare matters.
One undergraduate student said hostel hygiene, food quality and curfew-related concerns were among the issues students wanted a representative body to address. Students have described the demand as one for representation and leadership, rather than elections alone.
The protest has also taken on a social-media-driven character. At Duck Point, students have reportedly used memes, reels, sarcastic messages and witty placards to draw attention to the prolonged absence of AMUSU elections.
Women students have also joined the demonstrations, including protests reported around hostels.
Teachers’ Association Also Calls for Elections
The dispute has extended beyond student representation. The AMU Teachers’ Association has called for elections to statutory university bodies, stating that several have functioned without elected teacher representatives for years.
Students continue to seek dialogue with the administration, while Fahad’s deteriorating health remains an immediate concern.
The central issue is the prolonged absence of student union elections. With no clear election date announced in the information available, protesters are pressing the university to respond to their demand for elected representation.
For students, restoring AMUSU is about establishing a formal channel to raise campus concerns and participate in university affairs after nearly eight years without an elected union.
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